Saturday Previews
Bakburner look to give Hastings Racing Club members another winning afternoon on a card that also features two highly-competitive Allowance contests
WHAT’S SHAKIN launched his bid from somewhere near Stanley Park when trying to chase-down STANFORD BAY on a sloppy track at the end of May and should be a lot closer today on a sounder surface; although there’s clearly not much between the two. SET TO SHINE was on the front end for much of the way on his first effort of the season and he’s another who, back on a fast track and with a race under his girth, should be even closer again this afternoon.
Hastings Racing Club’s BAKBURNER is a real handful at this level and goes for her third win in four starts this season. This is a marginally tougher assignment but she again looks the one to beat. INDYETTA began the year with a win and has hit the board in both subsequent starts. She’s had a few of these in her rear view already and should’t be too far away again. JERSEY LILLIE is another marvellously consistent mare who went gate-to-wire last time and should again be an exacting taskmaster.
Given that it was his first run for almost a year, JOSE JOSE did remarkably well to finish second to Horatio on his reappearance, especially as the winner franked the form by winning again. That effort should have blown the cobwebs away and, as long as he is close to the same horse he was prior to his long absence, looks the one to beat. DREAM JEREEM makes his Hastings debut after arriving from Woodbine over the winter and, if he adapts to the unique demands Hastings, could exploit any weakness in the favourite. PISCO was fourth behind stablemate Horatio and Jose Jose but, prior to that, had KEEP IT COMING behind when winning over six furlongs and gives the Condilenios barn a strong hand.
COUNTER CAT held his own in tough company throughout last season and, with that level of talent, he surely can’t remain a maiden too much longer. He can get the job done today as he holds a favourite’s chance and sets the standard. KYALAM followed a promising debut with a fine second to the smart Autobahn Ace on just his second lifetime run and could easily progress again. If he does, he should go close. GIMLET was away awkwardly last time and never landed a blow, but was an excellent second to Annika’s Song on her racing debut and is better judged on that. Twice Stakes-placed as a juvenile, KRIS’S GOLD can be forgiven his last effort on a wet track and is better judged on last month’s fine third to Rondelito and Touch the Sun - both of whom have won since.
VIVA LA DIVA has only run twice over the mile-and-sixteeenth but finished second to the mighty Avana on both occasions - in the Supernatural Stakes and then the B.C Oaks. That’s classy form. Matsqui is another class act over the long course and she gets to stretch her legs here for the first time this season after two excellent efforts over the sprint course. WIRLY GIRLY went down swinging behind Avana and co last time, beaten just a length in a bunch finish and should be thereabouts again if able to replicate that level over this distance, while Viva la Diva’s stablemate SUNBLAZE continues to improve with racing and needs to be factored into the equation.
DUPLICATION was the engineer of his own demise last time, bidding to go gate-to-wire but setting up the narrowest of victories for specialist closer, PAY MY WAY, who is a different proposition when having something to run at. BROKE AN BROKEN is also a tough customer over the long course and could easily have been on a hat-trick today after winning on his season bow before going down by a nose to Ave’s in Command (who has won again since) over an insufficient 6 1/2 furlongs.
Lisa & Mike’s Saturday Selections
Statistics
Woodbine Barn Remains in Quarantine,
Horses Negative for EHV
Horses from barn 32 at Woodbine were scratched from races on Thursday and were in quarantine Friday morning.
Courtesy Canadian Thoroughbred
By: CT Staff | June 20, 2025
Horses in barn 32 at Woodbine were quarantined Friday morning after one horse trained by Krista Cole tested positive for equine herpes virus (EHV). That horse, which went to Equine Guelph on Tuesday, has recovered and is off the track, and the remaining horses in the barn have tested negative.
However, the barn must remain in quarantine and Woodbine has instituted a training schedule for the horses of barn 32.
On Thursday and Friday, horses entered in races from trainers Krista Cole, Debra Rombis and others were scratched.
From Woodbine:
Please take note that Baker’s Acres will be closed to the general horse population at 9:30 a.m. starting tomorrow, Friday June 20th, to allow quarantined horses in barn 32 to train.
Currently all horses in barn 32 have received negative test results for EHV. As such, horses will be allowed to ship out of Woodbine as normal.
From the AGCO:
The other 63 horses in the barn have tested negative for EHV-1 and have not exhibited any symptoms. These horses will continue to be closely monitored as they resume training and will not be permitted to race or train with other horses stabled at Woodbine.
The AGCO recommends that industry participants remain vigilant and check horse temperature twice a day. Any horses exhibiting elevated temperatures or other neurological symptoms will be immediately moved to an isolation barn.
While it cannot be spread to humans, EHV-1 is a highly contagious infectious disease that may cause significant illness and even death in horses.
The AGCO will continue to monitor the situation closely and further developments will be reported.
EHV-1 has an incubation period of approximately three to eight days and may in some cases be as long as 14 days. It is spread by nasal secretions and can live on gloves, boots, and equipment.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has been advised that a horse stabled at Woodbine Racetrack has tested positive for the neurotropic strain of EHV-1. After exhibiting neurological symptoms, the horse was transported to the Ontario Veterinary College where it was confirmed positive and is currently recovering.