Six of those contenders are coming off varied performances in the Queen's Plate. The 2021 Queen's Plate winner Safe Conduct will by-pass the Prince of Wales, but H C Holiday who placed third in the Plate will be looking to improve on his performance going 1 3/16-miles over the border oval's dirt course on Tuesday, September 14.

Trained by Kevin Attard, the dark bay colt is the son of Ami's Holiday. A graded stakes winner, Ami's Holiday was a runner-up in the 2014 Queen's Plate and finished third in the 2014 Prince of Wales Stakes. He went onto capture the third jewel of the CTC, the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine. His leading progeny, H C Holiday put in his final work over the Fort's dirt course earlier this week. His conditioner is pleased with his training heading into next week's race.

“He's trained really well. He came out of the race (Queen's Plate) in great shape. I thought he looked really good on the dirt training track at Woodbine. We brought him on Tuesday (to the Fort) as well and he went (1:01:20) by himself and seemed to be striding out really nice. He looked pretty smooth going over Fort Erie's course. Obviously if he runs back to that kind of race like last time in the Plate, he will be tough to beat.”

Owned by Ivan Dalos, H C Holiday will be ridden by Luis Contreras. Contreras has piloted several horses to victory in the Prince of Wales, including Pender Harbour (2011), Amis Gizmo (2016), and Cool Catomine (2017).

Attard will also saddle Harlan Estate (seventh in the Plate) and Haddassah (eighth in the Plate). Both horses have worked well heading into next week's race. Attard was impressed with Harlan Estate's work over the dirt earlier this week at the Fort.

“I was most surprised with him. He worked really well. He hasn't been that great of a work horse, so he looked pretty comfortable. He went 59 and change. I'm kind of pumped about his chances. In my mind after watching him work I think his chances have increased. He came out of the work in good shape as well and he's a horse that kind of plods along. He will need a good trip and he can't afford to get stopped midway,” said Attard.

Meanwhile fifth-placed Plate finisher, Keep Grinding will continue the grind heading into the second jewel of the CTC. Trained by Tino Attard for Kevin's son, Joshua Attard, the bay colt posted his final work at the Fort, in company with Harlan Estate going (:59:40) over the dirt.

Avoman, winner of the 2021 Plate Trial Stakes and the 2020 Bull Page Stakes at Woodbine is looking to step up his game after a sixth-place finish in the Plate. The bay gelding will be sent out by conditioner, Donald MacRae and ridden by Antonio Gallardo.

The lone filly taking on the boys this year will by Mark Casse's trainee, Curlin's Catch. The daughter of Curlin is coming off a fifth-placed finished in the Woodbine Oaks. She will be guided by veteran rider, Patrick Husbands. Back in 2018, Husbands clinched the Queen's Plate and the Prince of Wales with a filly named Wonder Gadot, trained by Mark Casse as well.

Looking to make waves in the Prince of Wales is Gail Cox's trainee, Tidal Forces. Owned by Sam-Son farm, the son of Malibu Moon finished ninth in the Plate. Woodbine-based jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson retains the mount and will pilot the bay colt around the border oval.

Ready At Dawn, conditioned by Daryl Ezra for Double Blooded Stables, is the Fort-Erie based trainee. The son of More Than Ready will be the race longshot at 30-1. The bay gelding won his last start at the Fort on August 9 going seven furlongs over the turf course. The Prince of Wales Stakes, contested over the turf course, going 1 3/16-miles (nine and a half furlongs) will require the bay gelding to stretch out in distance over a different surface. His conditioner is tapping into the family lineage in order to capture the stakes race.

“I'm relying on his pedigree. His great grandmother Dance Smartly won the Canadian Triple Crown including the mile and a half Breeders' Stakes and his grandmother Dancethruthedawn won a multitude of stakes – the Oaks, the Queen's Plate. The pedigree says distance so I'm going to rely on that to get us through it.”

Despite being the longshot, Ezra feels very confident about Ready At Dawn's chances.

“I've done every job imaginable back here (at Fort Erie Race Track), from charting, announcing, and training. I've seen a lot of races. We are 30-1 in the morning line, but we are as good as anything in there.”

The $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes is the middle jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, for three-year-olds foaled in Canada, running 1 3/16-miles over the border oval's dirt surface. First race post time on Tuesday, September 14 is 1 p.m., with the Prince of Wales race scheduled for approximately 5:35 p.m. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Fort Erie Race Track is open to a limited number of spectators. Those watching from home can tune into the Canadian Triple Crown Broadcast beginning at 5:00 p.m. on TSN Channels 1 and 3, sponsored by OLG.

For more information, please visit forterieracing.com

$400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown

POST – Horse – Jockey – Trainer – (morning line odds)

1. Avoman –Antonio Gallardo – Donald MacRae – (7-2)
2. Tidal Forces – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Gail Cox – (15-1)
3. Curlin's Catch – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse – (9-2)
4. Haddassah – Gary Boulanger – Kevin Attard – (12-1)
5. H C Holiday – Luis Contreras – Kevin Attard – (5-2)
6. Ready At Dawn – MarkLee Buchanan – Daryl Ezra – (30-1)
7. Harlan Estate – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard – (6-1)
8. Keep Grinding – Rafael Hernandez – Tino Attard – (3-1)

The post No Safe Conduct, But Eight Sophomores Entered For Second Leg Of Canadian Triple Crown appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The 162nd edition of the Queen's Plate, North America's oldest continually run race, contested at 1 ¼ miles on the Woodbine Tapeta, is the curtain raiser for the tri-surface series for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Wando, bred and owned by the late Gustav Schickedanz, was the last horse to accomplish the feat, in 2003, while becoming the seventh to record the unique triple. The $400,000 Prince of Wales, run at 1 3/16 miles on the dirt at Fort Erie on Sept. 14, is the second leg. The $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, at 1 ½-miles over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine on Oct. 3, concludes the series.

The Queen's Plate breakfast festivities, hosted by Jason Portuondo, included an appearance from Kayla Sanchez, Canadian Olympic medalist, remarks from Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment, and comments from the connections of horses running in Sunday's race.

The double-draw format was in place for the post-position draw, with the order of selection first established and the connections then choosing their post positions. The connections of Riptide Rock selected first and chose post seven.

This year's running of the Queen's Plate will showcase a mix of stakes champions, stars on the rise, and live longshots. Fillies will carry 123 pounds, while all other starters carry 126 pounds.

Trainer Kevin Attard, seeking his first Plate triumph, will be represented by four starters, including Munnyfor Ro, winner of the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, on Aug. 1.

To be ridden by Justin Stein for owner Raroma Stable, the daughter of Munnings will look to follow in the hoofsteps of other fillies who have notched the Oaks-Plate double, a list that includes Inglorious (2011), Lexie Lou (2014) and Holy Helena (2017).

Munnyfor Ro, sporting a 2-2-2 mark in nine starts, is in good order heading into the race.

“She's here and we're excited,” said Attard. “We waited to see how she came out of the race [Woodbine Oaks]. She seemed to handle the race really well in the Oaks. She had a good work in the interim and she's been doing really well. She's in the feed tub and it seems like she's ready to fire again.”

Attard's three other hopefuls come in the form of Haddassah, Harlan Estate and H C Holiday.

Haddassah, to be ridden by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Gary Boulanger, who won the 2001 Queen's Plate with Dancethruthedawn, is owned by Al & Bill Ulwelling.

“He's indicated to me that he should [get the distance],” said Attard. “Obviously, we're hoping to get him relaxed early and I think that will be the key.”

Owned by ERJ Racing (NHL defenceman Erik Johnson), Exline-Border Racing, Madaket Stables and Clay Scherer, Harlan Estate began his career in California before making the trek north to Woodbine. The son of Kantharos will have Kazushi Kimura – Woodbine's leading rider in 2021 – in the irons.

“He's named after my favorite wine in Napa (Harlan Estate),” Johnson told Woodbine's Communications Office. “His sire is Kantharos, which in Greek, was a cup used to hold wine. So, that's the tie-in there.

“He is out of an Arch mare, which is a big stamina influence in his pedigree. He is training very well and we are excited to see him run in Canada's biggest race.”

H C Holiday, a son of Ami's Holiday, will look to deliver Ivan Dalos, one of Canada's most successful owners and breeders, with his first Queen's Plate crown. Luis Contreras, the first rider to win all three Canadian Triple Crown races with different horses, gets the call on Sunday.

“We're pretty excited,” said Colleen Dalos, of Tall Oaks Farm. “My father has been in the business over 40 years, as everybody knows, and I think we've had four shots at this Plate. We've hit the board three times, we have three seconds, this is what we covet, everybody wants to win on their home turf and their home ground. It means everything to us to win a Plate.

“What's also exciting is this is the son of Ami's Holiday, who came second in the Plate and hit the board across the Triple Crown. So it's exciting for us to see our homebreds and the horses that we breed. This is four generations of Tall Oaks Farm breeding that has gone into this horse so we're so excited for H C Holiday.”

There are plenty of other intriguing Attard storylines in this year's Plate running.

Kevin's father, veteran trainer Tino Attard, will send out Keep Grinding, a dark bay son of Tizway who is 1-1-1 from five starts. Kevin's teenage son Joshua owns the colt.

“I am very excited and it's also very nerve wracking, that's for sure,” said Joshua Attard. “I know Keep Grinding, he'll show up. He always tries, if you watch all his races, he never gives up and I know on Sunday he'll show up.”

Keep Grinding has been installed as the 4-1 morning line favorite.

Hall of Fame conditioner Sid Attard, seeking his first Plate victory, rests his hopes on Stronach Stables' homebred Riptide Rock, a chestnut son of Point of Entry. The gelding won his most recent start on July 16 at Woodbine.

Avoman, trained by Don MacRae, who co-owns with La Huerta Inc. (Jim and Graeme Bruce), arrives at the Plate off a win in the Plate Trial Stakes. Antonio Gallardo, who moved his tack to Woodbine in July, will be aboard again on Sunday.

Dance Some Mo is one (Tidal Forces is the other) of two Sam-Son Farm silk bearers contesting this year's “Gallop for the Guineas.” Trained by Graham Motion, the son of Uncle Mo will be making his stakes debut in the Plate. Patrick Husbands, who guided Wando to Canadian Triple Crown glory in 2003, gets the call again.

Trained by Carlos Grant for owners Fieldstone Farms Inc. & Jecara Farms Corp., Derzkii, third in the Plate Trial, sports a record of 2-2-2 from nine starts. Jason Hoyte will be aboard the son of Frac Daddy.

Owner-breeder Garland Williamson's Go Take Charge will look to break his maiden in the Plate. Trained by Breeda Hayes, the son of Will Take Charge arrives at the $1 million event off a second-place finish on July 24 at Woodbine.

Champion jockey Irad Ortiz will guide Phillip Serpe trainee Safe Conduct on Sunday. The bay son of Bodemeister, owned by WellSpring Stables, will be making his first appearance in Canada, having contested his past three races at Belmont, which includes a win on May 2.

Anderson Farms Ontario Inc., William Carr, Donald Ferguson will take their shot at a Plate win with Take a Chance, a bay son of Munnings who won his most recent start, the victory coming on July 11 at the Toronto oval. Keveh Nicholls will ride.

The tandem of trainer Gail Cox and owner Sam-Son Farm, who teamed with El Tormenta to win the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile in 2019, will look for another big win, this time with Tidal Forces. The son of Malibu Moon will have champion rider Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard.

Sunday's card also features a trio of star-stacked graded stakes action, the Grade 1 Highlander, Grade 2 Dance Smartly and Grade 3 Ontario Colleen.

First race post time for Sunday is 12:25 p.m. (ET), with the featured Queen's Plate scheduled as Race 10 (5:42 p.m.). The national Plate broadcast will be televised on TSN and CTV starting at 4:30 p.m.

For the latest information, fans can follow @WoodbineTB on both Twitter and Instagram, and visit QueensPlate.com.

FIELD FOR THE QUEEN'S PLATE

Post – Horse – Trainer – Owner – Jockey – Morning Line Odds

1 – SAFE CONDUCT – Phillip Serpe – WellSpring Stables – Irad Ortiz Jr. – 5-1

2 – HARLAN ESTATE – Kevin Attard – ERJ Racing, Ex-Line Border Racing, Madaket Stables, Clay Scherer – Kazushi Kimura – 12-1

3 – HADDASSAH – Kevin Attard – Al & Bill Ulwelling – Gary Boulanger – 10-1

4 – TAKE A CHANCE – Catherine Day Phillips – Anderson Farms Ontario Inc., William Carr, Donald Ferguson – Keveh Nicholls – 20-1

5 – H C HOLIDAY – Kevin Attard – Ivan Dalos – Luis Contreras – 15-1

6 – MUNNY FOR RO – Kevin Attard – Raroma Stable – Justin Stein – 9-2

7 – RIPTIDE ROCK – Sid Attard – Stronach Stables – David Moran – 6-1

8 – KEEP GRINDING – Tino Attard – Joshua Attard – Rafael Hernandez – 4-1

9 – GO TAKE CHARGE – Breeda Hayes – Hillsbrook Farms – Sahin Civaci – 30-1

10 – DANCE SOME MO – Graham Motion – Sam-Son Farm – Patrick Husbands – 12-1

11 – AVOMAN – Don MacRae – La Huerta Imports & Don MacRae Racing Stable – Antonio Gallardo – 8-1

12 – TIDAL FORCES – Gail Cox – Sam-Son Farm – Emma-Jayne Wilson – 12-1

13 – DERZKII – Carlos Grant – Fieldstone Farms Inc. & Jecara Farms Corp. – Jason Hoyte – 30-1

The post Keep Grinding Named 4-1 Morning-Line Favorite In Wide Open Queen’s Plate appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

In between his virtual online classes, the 17-year-old high school student from Brampton, Ontario, took a few seconds out of a full day to click on the Woodbine Racetrack website.

After another click, he landed on the page he was looking for, the one that heralded the arrival of the Queen's Plate Winterbook, the annual list of predictive rankings for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds nominated to the Canadian Triple Crown.

Attard scanned the page to find his horse.

That's right… his horse.

“It feels great, to be honest with you,” said the son of high-profile Woodbine trainer Kevin Attard. “I never expected at my age that I could own a horse that could be in the Queen's Plate.”

His hopes of being represented in Canada's iconic horse race (August 22 at Woodbine) lies on the hooves of Keep Grinding, listed at 25-1 in the Winterbook.

The Ontario-bred son of Tizway broke his maiden in impressive fashion last November to close out his 2020 campaign. Under jockey Justin Stein, Keep Grinding prevailed by a neck in the 1 1/16 mile main track maiden special weight race at Woodbine.

Bred by Huntington Stud Farm Corp, the 3-year-old is trained by Attard's grandfather, longtime horseman Tino Attard.

“I'm proud of my horse and I'm proud to share this journey with my father and his father, my grandfather. I couldn't ask for anything better. It feels really great. I knew he might be a Plate-caliber horse when he started to work as a 2-year-old last year. I worked on the backstretch at Woodbine last summer, so I had the chance to watch him work and he would put on a show. His first race on the grass, I knew he had some talent because he came from far out of it and the race was a little short for him. He's a two-turn horse. When he broke his maiden, that's when I said I had a Queen's Plate prospect.”

The name of the horse, who has one win from three career starts, is a nod to Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner.

Attard came up with the idea after watching the young NHL star over the past few NHL seasons.

“I wanted to name my horse something that motivated me. I play hockey. When I go into the corners, I always tell myself to keep grinding for the puck. So, if I ever had the chance to own a horse I would name it Keep Grinding. It's something that motivates me and I hope it motivates other people.”

The thought of having a horse load into the starting gate for the $1 million classic is anything but a recent goal for Attard.

That dream came to light well before his first year of high school.

“I started going to the racetrack when I was around 10. I remember wanting to go because I was a little bored and I wanted to get out of the house. And the first time I went, it was the greatest feeling. I went to the backstretch to see the horses. I loved them. I would pet them and just enjoy spending time with them. I had a strong connection with them from the start and every year, my love of the horses and horse racing has grown.”

Attard, who was three when his father finished second with Alezzandro in the 2007 Queen's Plate, is hoping that this year's edition of the “Gallop for the Guineas” will see his family name written in the history books.

If Keep Grinding isn't the one crowned Plate champion, the younger Attard would be equally ecstatic to see his father lead a horse into the Woodbine winner's circle.

That would hardly be a longshot.

Kevin Attard has a pair of horses, namely, Stephen, and Haddassah, in the top five of the Queen's Plate Winterbook. He also has Truffle King (25-1), a dark bay son of Giant Gizmo, being pointed towards the Plate as well.

A bay son of Constitution-Naughty Holiday, Stephen is the second choice in the Winterbook at 4-1. He ended his 2-year-old campaign in style, taking all the spoils in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity Stakes.

Haddassah, a gelded son of Air Force Blue-Lady Haddassah, is listed as the 8-1 fourth choice in the Winterbook.

Stephen and Haddassah are both owned by the father-son team of Al and Bill Ulwelling.

“I'd still be cheering for whatever horse or horses my dad has in the Plate. If my dad has those three in the race and I have mine, I'll find a way to cheer for all four of them. Just because I own Keep Grinding doesn't mean I won't be rooting for my dad. But I know there's a long way to go before the big day.”

Until then, Attard will endeavor to keep the date of August 22nd in the back of his mind. Admittedly, it hasn't been an easy task and he knows it will only get tougher in the days and weeks ahead.

“I never would have expected, to be honest, to have a horse like this at my age. I'm really excited to have a horse that is eligible for the Queen's Plate, and that has a chance to be in the race. I know it's a hard road to get to the Queen's Plate, so we'll just hope the horse keeps developing and getting better each week.”

He likes what he's seeing in Keep Grinding.

“He's getting better each day, I think. He's bigger and stronger now and looks like he can handle the mile-and-a-quarter Plate distance. Hopefully, he keeps training well and he can be in the Queen's Plate. If I could win it, that would be even better. I'd probably start crying if we won.”

Attard is certain of one thing.

“If he does run in the Plate, I know he'll try his best and I'll be proud of him wherever he finishes. I know he'll live up to his name.”

The post A 17-Year-Old Owner, A 3-Year-Old Colt, And One Queen’s Plate Dream appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

In his last year of high school, Joshua has high praise for his 3-year-old Ontario-bred (trained by his grandfather Tino Attard), who capped off his 2-year-old year with an impressive victory.

Horse: Keep Grinding
Sire: Tizway
Dam: Samsal
Trainer: Tino Attard
Owner: Joshua Attard
Breeder: Huntington Stud Farm Corp.
Record: 1-0-0 from 3 starts

On being a teenage Thoroughbred owner:

“It feels great. I never would have expected, to be honest, to have a horse like this at my age. I'm really excited to have an opportunity to have a horse that is eligible for the Queen's Plate, and that has a chance to be in the race.”

On when he knew Keep Grinding had potential:

“I knew when he started to work as a 2-year-old last year. I used to go in the summer, when I didn't have school, to watch him work and he would put on a show. His first race on the grass, I knew he had some talent because he came from far out of it and the race was a little short for him. He's a two-turn horse. When he broke his maiden, that's when I said I had a Queen's Plate prospect.”

On why he chose the name:

“I wanted to name my horse something that motivated me. I play hockey. When I go into the corners, I always tell myself to keep grinding for the puck. So, if I ever had the chance to own a horse I would name it Keep Grinding. It's something that motivates me and I hope it motivates other people.”

On the thought of having a Queen's Plate starter:

“I'm very excited and happy. I'm really looking forward to that possibility of being in the Plate. Hopefully, everything goes well and we make it to the race. He started training in the past three weeks. It would be great if my grandfather and I had a shot to be in the Plate.”

On staying patient with the race being run on Aug. 22:

“I try not to think about it. I keep my thoughts to myself. I know it's a hard road to get to the Queen's Plate, so we'll just hope the horse keeps developing and getting better each week.”

The post 17-Year-Old Joshua Attard, Grandfather Tino Attard Team Up With Plate Hopeful Keep Grinding appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Claimed in February of 2017 at Gulfstream by Tino Attard, the filly won a trio of allowance races before being transferred to Woodbine. Trained by his son, Kevin Attard, for all of her graded stakes victories, Starship Jubilee began to show her talent over the turf with a win in the 2017 G2 Nassau Stakes in May. In all she won nine graded stakes, including the 2019 G1 E. P. Taylor Stakes and the 2020 G1 Woodbine Mile.

Bred in Florida, Starship Jubilee also won three straight editions of the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf Stakes at Gulfstream, from 2018 through 2020. She retires with a record of 19 wins from 38 starts, with earnings of $2,093,069.

“It was really emotional for me to say goodbye to her,” Attard told drf.com. “She obviously meant a lot to me, my family, and my career. Horses like her become part of your family. You look forward to seeing them every morning in the barn. It's going to be hard walking by her stall.”

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

The post ‘Emotional’ Goodbye: Starship Jubilee Retired Sound After Losing Rider In Breeders’ Cup appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Twice claimed early in her career, the Florida-bred has developed into a star with Attard. Twelve of her 19 career wins in 38 starts have come in stakes. Two of those victories were in Grade 1 races, including the most recent, the Woodbine Mile against males Sept. 19.

“As soon as she hit the track there were a couple of people out there and they said, 'Hey Starship Jubilee. I'm rooting for you,' “Attard said. “It's nice to hear and you really kind of savor that moment and realize that the following and the backing that she has generated over the years.”

Attard and his partner Soli Mehta claimed Starship Jubilee for $16,000 in February 2017 at Gulfstream. Attard's father, Tino, was the trainer of record when she reeled off three straight wins at Gulfstream in March and April. Moved to Woodbine in suburban Toronto and officially in the care of Kevin Attard, Starship Jubilee promptly won two Grade 2 races, the Nassau and the Dance Smartly. The one-time mediocre turf sprinter thrived in routes on grass.

In 29 races – never at less than a mile – she has compiled a 16-4-3 record in 29 starts and earned $2,052,519. She has won three Sovereign Awards as the top Canadian turf female and is Canada's reigning Horse of the Year.

In November 2018, Attard and Mehta offered the then-5-year-old mare for sale at auction at Keeneland. When bidding stopped at $425,000, below her reserve price, the owners decided to continue racing her. Within a day, though, they completed a sale with Bonnie Baskin's Blue Heaven Farm, a Versailles, Kentucky, commercial breeding farm managed by her son Adam Corndorf.

Attard suggested that Blue Heaven run the mare a few more times before being bred to Medaglia d'Oro in 2019. That mating ended up being put on hold for two seasons as she has won eight of 13 starts and earned more than $1.5 million. This year, Starship Jubilee has won five of six starts, including the Ballston Spa at Saratoga, a race that included champion Sistercharlie. After running fourth in the Diana — her first time off the board since December 2018 — at Saratoga on Aug. 23, she rebounded with the 1-length victory in the Woodbine Mile.

“Huge win, beating the boys in the Woodbine Mile,” Attard said. “It was a pretty gutsy performance on her part. She ran really well. She came out of the race in good shape. She's training great.

“It was a decision to either run against the males here in the Breeders' Cup Mile or in the Filly and Mare Turf at a mile and three-sixteenths against fillies. We elected to take the filly route. The mile and three-sixteenths should be up in her wheel house. She's been going a mile and a quarter. No race is easy, that's for sure.”

The post Attard Hoping To ‘Savor The Moment’ With Rags-To-Riches Breeders’ Cup Contender Starship Jubilee appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Perfectly ridden by Justin Stein, the Florida-bred daughter of Indy Wind out of Perfectly Wild, by Forest Wildcat, came from just off the pace to win by one length, covering one mile on firm turf in 1:32.06 and running her final quarter mile in 22.62 seconds.

March to the Arch finished second, with his Mark Casse stablemate, 2-1 favorite War of Will, third. They were followed across the finish by a third Casse entry, Olympic Runner, then by Armistice Day, Admiralty Pier, Shirl's Speight and Value Proposition in the field of eight.

Starship Jubilee, Canada's reigning Horse of the Year and Sovereign Award-winning turf female the last three years, paid $13.50 as the fourth choice in the betting.

The Ricoh Woodbine Mile is a Breeders' Cup Win and You're In Challenge Series race for the Fanduel Breeders' Cup Mile, to be run Nov. 7 at Keeneland. The win gives Starship Jubilee an automatic fees-paid berth in the race, along with $10,000 toward travel expenses.

Riding the mare for the first time, Stein – atop the Woodbine jockey standings in a tight race with Rafael Hernandez – allowed Starship Jubilee to settle just a few lengths off the pace set by Admiralty Pier through an opening quarter mile in :23.66 and a half in :46.14. Chad Brown-trained Value Proposition was lapped on Admiralty Pier, prompting the pace throughout.

With 3-year-old Shirl's Speight to his inside and 2-1 favorite War of Will to his outside, Stein waited patiently for a seam to open at the top of the long Woodbine stretch after six furlongs in 1:09.12. He allowed Starship Jubilee to drift to the outside and the mare kicked into high gear, overtaking the front runners to win convincingly.

Claimed by Kevin Attard's father, Tino Attard, for just $16,000 from trainer Jorge Navarro at Gulfstream Park in February 2017 in her ninth start, Starship Jubilee won five consecutive races for her new connections, including the G2 Nassau Stakes at G2 Dance Smartly Stakes in 2017. Starship Jubilee added two stakes victories in 2018, including the G2 Canadian Stakes, and won three more in 2019, highlighted by her first G1 in the E.P. Taylor Stakes going 1 1/4 miles at Woodbine.

Starship Jubilee won her first four starts this year, including the G3 Suwannee River Stakes at Gulfstream Park, the G2 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and the G2 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga before finishing fourth behind Rushing Fall in the G1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 23 in her most recent start.

She won CAN$600,000 for the Woodbine Mile victory and has now surpassed $2 million in career earnings.

The post Starship Jubilee Rolls To 19th Career Victory In ‘Win And You’re In’ Woodbine Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

The 24th running of the Ricoh Woodbine Mile, worth $1 million and contested over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course, has attracted a competitive field of eight hopefuls. With an estimated post time of 5:39 p.m. ET, the race will be showcased on a live broadcast airing on TSN3 & TSN5 in Canada and on NBCSN in the U.S. from 5-6 p.m. ET.

Under the terms of the Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge Series, the Woodbine Mile winner will be entitled to a fees-paid berth for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile, to be run on November 7 at Keeneland.

This year's edition of the Mile showcases an intriguing mix of local talents and U.S. headliners.

Entered in the 2018 November Breeding Stock Sale at Keeneland, Starship Jubilee failed to meet her $425,000 reserve and was subsequently sold privately to Bonnie Baskin's Blue Heaven Farm.

The 7-year-old daughter of Indy Wind has assembled a career record of 18-5-3, going 3-3-1 from seven starts in 2019 en route to her Sovereign Award recognition, which also includes three straight (2017-19) Champion Female Turf Horse honours.

“I don't think people realize how hard it is to keep a horse consistent,” said Attard. “When you see that consistency – there are always so many things that can go wrong, bad trips, bad luck, horses waking up on race day and not feeling well – bringing their A-game each and every time, it shows you how special it is and how special this horse is.”

In five starts this year, Starship Jubilee, bred in Florida by William Sorren, won her first four starts before finishing fourth in her most recent engagement, the Diana (G1) at Saratoga on August 23.

Attard is hoping a return to the E.P. Taylor course, where she has won six races including back-to-back (2018-19) Canadian Stakes (G2), results in a trip to the winner's circle.

“You can see that she seems like she enjoys winning. She has that desire and she has that feisty attitude in the morning. I think, especially with fillies, that attitude carries over to the afternoon.”

Now, her connections are hoping to add some more hardware to an already impressive haul.

“She's a multiple Sovereign Award winner, which is pretty special in itself. But, to train a Horse of the Year, that's icing on the cake, a huge accomplishment. To look back at the season that she had, winning the E.P. Taylor Stakes, an international race like that, it was a fabulous season, and she's a fabulous mare. They are once-in-a-lifetime horses.”

Attard has enjoyed having a front-row seat to watch her compete.

“When I look at her, she's tiny – definitely not big. She's fierce, she's feisty and she just has this mental approach and attitude… she goes out there and wants to do everything hard and fast. She loves what she does. She's a true competitor – loves to train, loves to run, and enjoys what she does. And we enjoy watching it all.”

Should she win, Starship Jubilee would join Ventura (2009) and Tepin (2016) as the only mares to take the Mile.

Leading jockey Justin Stein picks up the mount on the mare who is approaching the $2 million mark in career earnings.

A Keeneland sale graduate, War of Will is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of War Front out of the Sadler's Wells mare Visions of Clarity (IRE).

Gary Barber's 2019 Preakness Stakes winner heads into Saturday's engagement off a nose win in the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) on July 10.

The Maker's Mark was the fourth graded stakes victory for War of Will and his first on turf.

Last year, War of Will took the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds before his Preakness victory in mid-May. The Preakness came after a troubled seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4, 2019.

The Woodbine Mile represents his third Woodbine start.

He launched his career with a pair of races at the Toronto oval, including a third in his debut on August 24, 2018.

In his second start, three weeks later, the colt contested the Summer Stakes (G1), finishing second to even-money choice Fog of War.

Now, after two years, the well-travelled bay is back at the place where it all began.

Casse, who won the 2016 Mile with Tepin and the 2017 running with World Approval, is hopeful the third time is the charm for the five-time winner.

“He's coming off that nice win in the Maker's Mark Mile and he's trained as good as I've ever seen him train since that race. We're expecting him to run well. Rafael [Hernandez] is going to ride him. We had got the call for Rafael for the Mile, two or three weeks before March the Arch ran. So, it doesn't have anything to do with him picking one over the other. He had committed to Gary Barber and War of Will before he even rode March the Arch. I don't want anybody to read anything into it – that they think one is better than the other. It has no bearing.”

Lightly-raced Shirl's Speight, denied a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate after developing a cough ahead of the race, will be making his third start in the Mile.

After a brilliant debut on July 4, an eight-length score at seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Charles Fipke's homebred three-year-old son of Speightstown followed it up with a 2 ¾-length triumph in the main track Marine Stakes (G3) at Woodbine on July 25.

“He missed a work but I kept him galloping and galloping,” noted Attfield. “He had a very good work [Tuesday] morning.”

Shirl's Speight was also being considered for the 145th running of the Preakness on October 3 before the connections decided to keep their budding star at home.

“This [Mile] is still a big step, but it's better than the alternative,” said Attfield. “There was the dirt, the ship, I couldn't send help with him.”

A 5-year-old son of English Channel, Admiralty Pier brings back-to-back second-place efforts into the Mile.

Trained by Barb Minshall, the gelding was a half-length back of Silent Poet in the Connaught Cup (G2) on July 11, before taking the runner-up spot to Mile rival March to the Arch in the King Edward (G2) on August 15.

In his first start of 2020, the Calumet Farm-bred chestnut sprung a 21-1 upset in the Tampa Bay Stakes (G3) on February 8.

Owned by Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford, Admiralty Pier, 5-3-2 from 21 starts, was seventh to El Tormenta in last year's running of the race.

Armistice Day, also from the Minshall barn, will be making his third straight start at Woodbine.

Owned by Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins, the 4-year-old son of Declaration of War has a 3-2-1 record from five outings at the Toronto oval, including a one-length score in last July's Toronto Cup Stakes.

The chestnut gelding's most recent win came on August 2 at Woodbine, a 1 ¼-length triumph in a 1 1/16 mile main track race that was originally scheduled for the grass.

Live Oak Plantation homebred March to the Arch, also trained by Casse, took the one-mile turf King Edward on August 15.

Under Rafael Hernandez, the 5-year-old gelded son of Arch notched a 2 ¼-length win in the Grade 2 stakes event, the seventh win in 23 starts for the Florida-bred bay.

“I was extremely impressed with his last win,” said Casse. “More importantly, he's come back and trained very well. Patrick [Husbands] is going to ride him. We've had tremendous success with Patrick over the years and he's also had great success for Live Oak. It was a perfect match.”

Casse's third Mile entrant comes in the form of hard-knocking Olympic Runner, who recently earned silver against multiple stakes champion Pink Lloyd in both the Bold Venture (G3) and Vigil (G3).

A 4-year-old son of Gio Ponti, the Gary Barber-owned gelding has a record of 3-3-2 from 12 career starts.

Last year, Olympic Runner, bred by Eutrophia Farm, won the King Corrie Stakes, at Woodbine. In his last eight starts, the Kentucky-bred has two wins, three seconds and two thirds.

“He's a horse that's just become better and better,” praised Casse. “We just feel like the mile will suit him well, but he still has to prove he fits in the caliber of March the Arch and War of the Will. He's doing well.”

Daisuke Fukumoto, who teamed to win the Queen's Plate with Mighty Heart on September 12, gets the call.

Value Proposition, a 4-year-old son of Dansili, will try the Canadian green scene for the first time.

Trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Racing Stables, the dark bay heads into the Mile off a third-place showing in the Poker (G3) on July 4 at Belmont.

Bred by Meon Valley Stud, Value Proposition is 3-0-1 from five career starts.

The lucrative Ricoh Woodbine Mile program will also feature the $125,000 Singspiel Stakes (G3), the $135,000 Woodbine Cares Stakes, and the $135,000 Ontario Racing Stakes. Breeders' Cup Challenge Series action will continue on Sunday with the $250,000 Summer Stakes (G1) and $250,000 Natalma Stakes (G1).

First race post time on Saturday is set for 1:10 p.m. For more information, visit Woodbine.com.

$1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Grade 1)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer – Morning Line

1 – March to the Arch – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse – 5-2

2 – Armistice Day – David Moran – Barbara Minshall – 20-1

3 – Shirl's Speight – Kazushi Kimura – Roger Attfield – 8-1

4 – Starship Jubilee – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard – 4-1

5 – Olympic Runner – Daisuke Fukumoto – Mark Casse – 15-1

6 – Admiralty Pier – Steven Bahen – Barbara Minshall – 10-1

7 – Value Proposition – Luis Contreras – Chad Brown – 6-1

8 – War of Will – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse – 2-1

The post War Of Will Takes On Talented Field In Saturday’s Woodbine Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post