Above Average Makes the Grade
Canmor Farms' smart three-year-old filly took the day's feature Allowance contest for trainer Mark Cloutier, so completing a double for trainer, owner and breeder, Ole Nielsen
HIGHLIGHTS
Trainer Mark Cloutier had a training double
Canmor Farms owned two winners, both bred by Ole Nielsen
Ridge Balgobin, Silvino Morales and Fraser Aebly all piloted two winners on the day
The handle was $378,939
Six of the days seven races were won by horses bred in B.C.
Sunday brought relief from the recent hot spell with some welcome cloud cover; although it was still a warm day for horses and humans alike. The track remained fast and all bar one of the races went to runners either on, or close to, the front end throughout.
Race 1.
The first on Sunday saw Rob and Sheena Maybin's ARIKARA ($5.60) make short work of her competition as she led throughout under Ridge Balgobin, setting sensible fractions of 22.68 and 46.56 before drawing away on the turn to post an impressive score in 1:17.16 for trainer Rob Maybin. Jim and Anne Alendal’s HARLAN'S ANGEL ran her usual gritty race, chasing the pace under Amadeo Perez and gamely held the runner-up spot for trainer Cindy Krasner. Roger Snow’s PINEAPPLE TIDBITS was given a perfect ride by Brian Boodramsingh saving every inch of ground but could manage to claim third money today.
Claims:
PINEAPPLE TIDBITS was claimed by owner Donald Musgrave for trainer Keith Pedersen
Race 2.
The second of the day went to Lorie Henson, Helen Klimes and Sharon Pring's QUAGMIRE ($5.50), who was beautifully rated by Fraser Aebly through easy splits of 23.02 and 46.94 then sprinted off to win easily in a quick 1:17.06 for conditioner Steve Henson. Sasquatch Stables’ RING OF KERRY showed good speed and was reined in to track the slow pace on the rail and ran on well to be second. Stewart Spencer's KNOPFLER was always close to the pace tracking in fourth portion early then made a quick three-wide move on the final bend to get in a photo for third.
Race 3.
The third of the day was hurt by scratches which left a field of only three. Winning the money was the G.O. Stables’ KOALA ($2.70), who was allowed to able through easy fractions of 23.20 and 47.25, then had to call on all of her talent to narrowly win in 1:17.65 under Silvino Morales for trainer Erick Gutierrez. Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds’ QUALITY COMMAND was content to sit in second then came to call at the three-eighths pole and battled determinedly to the wire and just missed, ending up second under Antonio Reyes for trainer Edgar Mendoza. WYN Racing Stables’ ICE BREAKER was last early and tried to make up ground but the fractions were too slow up front so she had to settle for third.
Claims:
KOALA was claimed by WYN Racing Stables Corp for trainer Larry Grieve
Race 4.
The fourth race on the program saw a huge performance from Mainline Stables FINDING WAYS ($9.70), who withstood a pace battle of 22.34 and a wicked half-mile in 45.20, then started to sneak away on the final bend and drew off to a big win in 1:16.40 under Silvino Morales for trainer Nicole Rycroft. Nicole Droder's TIZ VICIOUS was happy to sit in behind the speed duel and made a run on the stretch turn but did not threaten the winner. Milburn Legacy's FOREIGN PROTOCOL was off a step slow then rushed up to battle for the lead and sped through the quick splits that were being set and stayed on bravely for third.
Claims:
TIZ VICIOUS was claimed by owners Devon O’Donnell and Gary Johnson for trainer Frank Barroby
Race 5.
The fifth on the card was won by Canmor Farm's MAKEITORBREAKIT ($27.40) who was put on the lead by Fraser Aebly, getting contested splits of 24.08, 47.86 and 1:12.81, and he continued to fight valiantly to get the win in 1:51.20 for trainer Mark Cloutier. Willow Creek Farms' LAUGH WITH ME was also up on the pace and had every shot to win under Amadeo Perez, but couldn’t quite match strides with the winner and checked in second. James Redekop and Stefan Ferrario's BROKE AN BROKEN ducked in sharply leaving the gate, costing him at least eight lengths and he did well to overcome the poor beginning to be third.
Race 6.
The sixth of the day saw Canmor Farm's ABOVE AVERAGE ($5.80) turn in a brilliant run as she got back on track before her next date in stakes company on BC Cup Day. She was asked to relax in behind the speed by Amadeo Perez then exploded at the top of the stretch in a dominating effort to win in 1:45.57 for trainer Mark Cloutier. Lyle Johnson, Mark Johnson and Clive Harding’s ARUNDEL CASTLE was back to her lazy self early, nestling herself in last place before producing a spirited final quarter mile to get into the runner-up spot under Brian Boodramsingh for trainer Keith Pedersen. Renfrew Racing, B and B Racing, No Trump Stable, Matt Elder and Bill Breen's MATSQUI closed up smartly on the inside under Silvino Morales in the stretch to get the third spot for trainer Mark Freeman.
Race 7.
The seventh went to Michelle Roberts-Henson and Mark McGinnis’ RACING RIVER ($6.20), who carved out a demanding tempo of 21.91 and 45.62 but was up to the task under Ridge Balgobin and cruised under the line well clear in 1:17.45 for trainer Rob Henson. Hammer Racing Stables’ FOOT SOLDIER made a big run from off the pace to get into the second spot, giving trainer Rob Henson the Exactor. Jordan Froelich's MORETHANSOULTITLE was in a great position early under Antonio Reyes, tracking the speed on the rail, but couldn’t quite gain on the leader and ended up third.
Claims:
DEPUTY’S DANCER was claimed by owners WYN Racing Stables Corp for trainer Larry Grieve
Elysian Field the best in Woodbine Oaks
TORONTO, July 23, 2023 – Elysian Field, under former Hastings’ rider Sahin Civaci, unleashed a spirited stretch run to take all the spoils in the 68th running of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, Sunday at Woodbine.
Trained by Mark Casse for Team Valor International and Gary Barber, Elysian Field took the lead just before the stretch call and confidently fended off a pair of late-running rivals en route to a 2 ¼-length score and with it, a possible date in the King’s Plate on August 20.
Fashionably Fab and Friends for Life both broke sharply with the former emerging with a slim early advantage as the field of 14 moved past the wire for the first time and into the first turn. Ticker Tape Home was positioned third and Fortyfiveseventy settled into fourth, while Civaci had Elysian Field in sixth through an opening quarter reached in :24.02.
The lead pair continued their front-end tussle through a half-mile in :46.96 as Elysian Field was running comfortably and unhurried in seventh.
Ticker Tape Home pounced on the frontrunners ahead of three-quarters and looked to dash away from her foes, but Elysian Field was rolling to her outside, wearing down her stablemate to hold a head advantage at the stretch call before powering away for the victory.
Wickenheiser, at 6-1, finished second and 50-1 Fortyfiveseventy, three-quarters of a length further back, was third. Me and My Shadow took fourth.
“Honestly, the horse was great,” said Civaci. “I just had a good trip overall, and she came running.”
The final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:49.83.
“We bought her a month or two after her first start at Saratoga and we had her here for about two days and she went into the clinic for about a week, almost a little touch and go, colic,” said Casse. “I think it took its’ toll and we brought her home and she’s got bigger and stronger. She’s beautiful.
A chance to contest the $1 million King’s Plate appears to be a strong possibility for the daughter of Hard Spun-Elysian, according to Casse, who turned the Oaks-Plate double with Lexie Lou nine years ago.
“Gary [Barber] owns a part and he’s game. I want to talk to Barry Irwin from Team Valor, but she’s a big, strong filly and I’m extremely happy how we get a month between the Oaks and The King’s Plate, so that’s important. Three weeks is tough, so now we get four weeks, and I don’t see why she wouldn’t.”
The Woodbine Oaks has served as a Queen’s Plate stepping-stone for fillies. Oaks-Plate champions include Holy Helena (2017), Lexie Lou (2014), Inglorious (2011) and Dancethruthedawn (2001). In 2018, Oaks runner-up Wonder Gadot went on to win the Queen’s Plate. In 2022, Moira, Canada’s reigning horse of the year, achieved the same feat.
Bred by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc., the chestnut is now 2-2-0 from six starts. Elysian Field debuted at Saratoga last August, finishing second, at 50-1, in a 5 ½-furlong turf race. She broke her maiden this April at Woodbine in a 6 ½-furlong race over the Tapeta.
Elysian Field paid $13.60 for the win.
Bloodhorse Daily Headlines — Monday, July 24
FRIDAY NIGHT RACING!
Racing resumes at Hastings this upcoming Friday, July 28 with the first post at 7:00 p.m.
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