Stakes Schedule for May 2009

There are eleven stakes on board for the month of May at Woodbine Racetrack. There will be four graded stakes events, including two on the E.P. Taylor turf course later in the month.

Here is the stakes schedule for May 2009:

**Races in BROWN are on the Polytrack
**Races in GREEN are on the Turf

Saturday May 2nd - Queenston Stakes, $150,000 Guaranteed. (For Three-Year-Olds, Foaled in Ontario, Seven Furlongs.)

Sunday May 3rd - Fury Stakes, $150,000 Guaranteed. (For Three-Year-Old Fillies, Foaled in Ontario, Seven Furlongs.)

Saturday May 9th - New Providence Stakes (An Ontario Sire Stakes), $125,000 Guaranteed. (For Three-Year-Olds & Upward, Six Furlongs.)

Sunday May 10th - Hendrie Stakes Gr.III, $150,000 Guaranteed. (For Fillies & Mares, Four-Year-Olds & Upward, Six & One-Half Furlongs.)

Saturday May 16th - Marine Stakes, $150,000 Guaranteed. (For Three-Year-Olds, One Mile & One-Sixteenth.)

Sunday May 17th - La Lorgnette Stakes, $150,000 Guaranteed. (For Three-Year-Old Fillies, One Mile & One Sixteenth.)

Monday May 18th - Vigil Stakes Gr.III, $150,000 Guaranteed. (For Four-Year-Olds & Upward, Seven Furlongs.)

Saturday May 23rd - Lady Angela Stakes (An Ontario Sire Stakes), $125,000 Guaranteed. (For Three-Year-Old Fillies, Seven Furlongs.)

Sunday May 24th - Connaught Cup Stakes Gr.III, $150,000 Guaranteed. (For Four-Year-Olds & Upward, One Mile & One-Sixteenth.)

Saturday May 30th - Nassau Stakes Gr.II, $300,000 Guaranteed. (For Fillies & Mares, Three-Year-Olds & Upward, One Mile & One-Sixteenth.)

Sunday May 31st - Plate Trial Stakes, $150,000 Guaranteed. (Scale Weight, For Three-Year-Olds, Foaled in Canada, One Mile & One-Eighth.) Read more!

April 26th, 2009 - The Woodstock Stakes, Three-Year-Olds, Six Fulongs

Unfortunately, I am away for the race tomorrow and will have to update the site when I get back from my trip this upcoming Thursday. I will also include the May Stakes Schedule and previews for next weekends stakes. Sorry to disappoint anyone.
Here are the results: http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/summary/WO042609CAN-EQB.html#RN8 Read more!

Disfunction Digs Deep to Win 56th Running of the Jacques Cartier Stakes

It was an incredible finish at Woodbine Racetrack today in the 56th edition of the Jacques Cartier Stakes. It came down to the wire in a blanket finish with the Julia Carey trainee, Disfunction, getting up just in time to capture the $150,000 event by a neck. Race eight on the card at Woodbine would be one to remember for the connections of five-year-old Disfunction. The dark bay gelding would start the race out of the one hole which would force him to force the pace early. With Stradivinsky taking command of the lead down the backstretch into the turn, Disfunction and Emile Ramsammy would be taken back, off the rail, to the outside going around the turn. Meanwhile upfront, the real battle would begin as Stradivinsky would be joined by rivals Field Commission and Shadowless at the top of the stretch. With Stradivinsky weakening on the inside, Field Commission and Shadowless would begin dueling past the eighth pole only to be joined by Disfunction, at the sixteenth pole, who was driving hard and would just get a neck in front of Shadowless before the wire. The time set by Disfunction would eclipse the old race record by one one-hundredth of a second at 1:08.62. Ramsammy would later say of the victory, "As the race unfolded they tried to keep me on the inside, but, we backed out nicely and I always thought this horse could be ridden from anywhere, not necessarily on the lead, as I didn't want press him or to exert him too much. Sitting behind with a quarter mile to run, I was happy, as I asked him for his big kick and he started motoring and persevered to be a nice winner." When asked to describe the winner in one word, the elated Ramsammy says, "Mental, Disfuntion is just mental."

For complete results to the 56th running of the Jacques Cartier Stakes click here: http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/WO042509CAN8.pdf
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Saturday April 25th, 2009 - The Jacques Cartier Stakes, Four-Year-Olds & Upward, Six Furlongs

History Lesson: The inaugural year that the Jacques Cartier was run in Canadian thoroughbred horse racing was in 1954. Since that time the stakes race has been run between six and seven furlongs. Being a race for four-year-olds and up, it is common to see horses come back to this event year after year and on occasion back-to-back winners, the last time being 2001 and 2002 by Wake At Noon. The race has seen many prominent horses over the years including 1958's winner Nearctic; sire of Northern Dancer, Overskate winning in '79 and '80, Play the King winner of 1987 and Regal Intention winning in 1990. There have only been three fillies to conquer the Jacques Cartier and those years are very distant, going back to Regal Dancer in 1970. Last season's winner, Legal Move, is the current record holder in a time of 1:08.63. Legal Move is also the track record holder at six furlongs on the Woodbine polytrack in a time of 1:08.31.

The Jacques Cartier Stakes 2009: This year's edition of the six furlong event shall be one to remember. With returning champion Legal Move back looking to repeat his effort from '08, the race will also see a field of accomplished sprinters, including an old Woodbine favorite Judith's Wild Rush, winner of this race in '06 and Stradivinsky the winner of the '07 edition. Here's a look at the field by post position:

1 Disfunction by Vying Victor out of Summers Prospect(Gold Crest) Own: JMJ's Stable and Weila Ye, Trainer: Julia Carey, Jockey: Emile Ramsammy

2 Legal Move by Bold Executive out of Charity Country(Country Store) Own: Bruno Schickedanz, Trainer: Mark Fournier, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

3 Stradivinsky by Stravinsky out of Lubicon(Apalachee) Own: Kenneth E. Hoffman, Trainer: Kenneth E. Hoffman, Jockey:Corey Frasor

4 Wollemi Pine by Aljabr out of Toogie Pine(Pine Bluff) Own: Kinghaven Farms, H. Clarke, G. Thompson, Trainer: Ian Black, Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson

5 Shadowless by Stormy Atlantic out of Life in Fiction(Whiskey Wisdom) Own: Heather Takahashi, Trainer: David Bell, Jockey: Justin Stein

6 Timely Advice by A.P. Indy out of Confessional(Holy Bull) Own: Pin Oak Stable, Trainer: Malcolm Pierce, Jockey: Jim McAleney

7 Field Commission by Service Stripe out of Tearfull Moment(Schossberg) Own: E. Seltzer and D. Vella, Trainer: Daniel J. Vella, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro

8 Judith's Wild Rush by Wild Rush out of Tie Talk(Black Tie Affair(IRE)) Own: Harvey Tenenbaum, Trainer: Reade Baker, Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva

The Skinny: This season's Jacques Cartier features very classy horses, some with early speed and other who like to stalk the pace, looking to pounce on the front-runners down the stretch, such as the likes of Legal Move. Legal Move is last year's winner in this event and will be looking to repeat against a new group here. Legal Move will be making his third start off the shelf in '09 after a third place effort on opening weekend at Woodbine earlier this April. A steady runner, posting high Beyer speed figures throughout his career(94 in last start), this five-year-old son of Bold Executive has lifetime earnings of $794,274 and holds the Jacques Cartier record time and Woodbine track record for six furlongs.

Disfunction has become a star of the Toronto oval over the past year, setting a new track record for seven furlongs in the Vigil Stakes Gr.III (1:20.51) in his '08 campaign. With a win in his first start this season, Disfunction will look to have continued success here, as he has already beaten rivals Legal Move and Shadowless in that win on April 5th/09. The Julia Carey student is very consistent and has posted great Beyers in the nineties in eight of his last nine starts, the latter being an 85 in Disfunction's only turf race. With earnings of over $300,000 this five-year-old will be one to keep an eye on here.

Kinghaven Farms five-year-old gelding Wollemi Pine will look to get back to his winning ways in his first start of the shelf in '09. Known as a turf competitor, Wollemi Pine has been successful on the synthetic surface as well, accruing two wins in ten starts on the poly. He has lifetime earnings over 300k and posts very good Beyers ranging in the eighties and nineties, though most of his success has come in allowance company. He has beaten foe Legal Move before and will look to do so again here. Look for him to come off the pace for a late rally down the stretch.

Shadowless has been very tough in his last three starts posting Beyers in the nineties in each of them, including his first start of this season in a game but losing effort against rivals Disfunction and Legal Move. He would finish fifth only a length back of the winner. The Dave Bell trainee has been in stakes company before, with much being achieved, winning the Kennedy Road Gr. III and hitting the board in three other stakes events in '08. Watch out for this four-year-old gelding as he can go to the lead or just sit back of the leader looking to get up late.

Stradivinsky is coming off his first start in almost two years. A past winner of the Jacques Cartier(2007), Stradivinsky is now trained by Kenneth Hoffman who will be looking to bring back some accomplishment to his six-year-old's resume. Of the eight horses in the field, none have posted Beyers as high as his past performances, including a stretch of four races between Nov. '06 to June '07, where he would reach the hundreds in each of the four. Questions will be answered of Stradivinsky's abilities here.

Timely Advice, a four-year-old colt by A.P. Indy, is the least experienced in the group with only six lifetime races under his belt. However, he has seen the winner's circle fifty percent of the time and hit the board five of six occasions. The Malcolm Pierce student has been winter raced, picking up two wins at the Fair Grounds. Most recently he has been working out over the main track at Keenland and is now back at the Toronto oval looking to do some damage in this event with Jimmy Mac aboard, his rider last season. This is Timely Advice's first stakes race.

Field Commission is a very tough competitor as he had proven in his three-year-old season (11-4-2-3) earning over $200,000 in purses. Danny Vella will have is colt ready to go here in his first start off the shelf with youngster Tyler Pizarro up. Though the son of Service Stripe has not won in against stakes company before, he was very game in the Kennedy Road Gr. III vying with Shadowless and others in a late rally and also finished just half a length back against Legal Move in an allowance race. Watch for Field Commission to make a stretch bid on the outside.

Then there's Judith's Wild Rush, the crafty veteran. This eight-year-old horse has always been tough at Woodbine, where he has accrued earnings of over 700k. He has been away for a while and is now back under the care of Reade Baker. He has been running at two-turns for his last couple starts, not really what we're used to seeing from him and he has not fared overly well. He will be looking to get back to form here in the race he won in 2006. It would be nice to see him get it done, but, he's probably not going to be much of a factor for this bunch.

My Picks: 1-2-6

Please feel free to leave your own comments and picks for this 56th running of the Jacques Cartier Stakes.

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Milwaukee Appeal and Samsonith Get It Done in Star Shoot

The 54th running of the Star Shoot Stakes was another exciting event at the Toronto oval on Sunday April 19th, 2009. Three-year-old filly Milwaukee Appeal and jockey Na Samsonith would get away from the pack down the stretch getting the win for trainer Scott Fairlie and owners C.E.C. Farms in the $150,000 race.

It was a great day for the daughter of Milwaukee Brew and her connections as the young filly would beat her rivals in a very well rated race. Out of the gate Milwaukee Appeal would come out of the outside post very much in the front with foes Sans Sousi and Campfire Girl. She would let the field take it from there as Samsonith would ease her off the pace down the backstretch, settling into fourth position, on the outside. With a reserved quarter of :23.48 the front runners would watch as Milwaukee Appeal would stride by them four wide around the turn, coming out into the stretch with a short lead. From there the Scott Fairlie student would begin to draw away from a tired bunch with the exception of the post time favorite Deeveetee. Unfortunately for Mark Casse's trainee, Deeveetee, she could not catch Milwaukee Appeal who held her position down the stretch winning by one and three quarters of a length. Milwaukee Appeal would have her way partly do to the fact that Deeveetee was boxed in around the turn and would have to go four wide to rally behind the eventual winner. Samsonith would be all smiles after the win, elaborating on the victory, "She was very good at the gate, she came out of it very sharp. I thought the field would have more speed, but, she was there with them at the quarter pole and turning for home I asked her to go and she opened up." Milwaukee Appeal and Samsonith would have a winning time of 1:10.90 going six furlongs.

Milwaukee Appeal will definitely be a horse to watch as the road to the Oaks is underway. Last year as a two-year-old she had proven to race fans that she can go two turns winning the Ontario Lassie Stakes at a distance of a mile and a sixteenth. Be sure that this first start off the shelf was just the beginning of what may prove to be a very exciting and successful season for the young filly.

For full results to the 54th running of the Star Shoot Stakes click here:
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/WO041909CAN6.pdf

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Dancing Allstar and Jimmy Mac Pull Off Upset In '09 Whimsical

As promised, the 2009 Whimsical Stakes Gr.III was an exciting race, resulting in an upset victory by four-year-old filly Dancing Allstar. With Jim McAleney aboard, the front running sprinter had her way with a reserved pace, unchallenged at the quarter pole, making it an easy victory for her as she would set a new Whimsical record time of 1:09.16.

The daughter of Millennium Allstar would pick up her ninth lifetime victory and first graded stakes win. As mentioned earlier, the pace was reserved once the Terry Jordan trainee marked the quarter pole in :23.22 and headed into the turn with a lead of just over a length. She was virtually unchallenged by the field as she turned for home. Dancing Allstar would kick away with "Jimmy Mac" just giving her a hand-ride to the wire. When asked about the trip Dancing Allstar had, McAleney would say with admiration of the filly "I was really happy with this filly, being her first time out this year, she was very composed and within herself. She settled down nicely in the first quarter, which was a big, big help for us." Mac would go on, " She stepped away from those fillies so comfortable in the turn and was able to maintain her position down the lane and hold'em off, she's a very talented filly."

The heavily favored Smart Surprise would not be a dominating factor in this year's Whimsical as she lacked the finish she has shown in the past. Though she would finish second, the 8/5 morning line mare was no match as she chased the winner down the lane and she hung late to fend off the ship-in, Proud Heiress, who would finish strong with a late rally on the outside for third.

For final results Click here:
http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/summary/WO041909CAN-EQB.html#RN6
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Sunday April 19th, 2009 - The Star Shoot Stakes, for Three-Year-Old Fillies, Six Furlongs

History Lesson: The Star Shoot Stakes was inaugurated into Canadian thoroughbred racing back in 1956 at Greenwood Raceway, downtown Toronto. The stakes race would later see some time at Fort Erie from 1967 to 1975 and then move locations, once again, to its present home Woodbine Racetrack in 1976. The race has always been a sprint, ranging from distances of 6 furlongs to 7 furlongs, run on the dirt up until Woodbine switched over to the synthetic polytrack in 2006. E.P. Taylor's Windfields Farm holds the record for most wins by an owner with five ('58, '60, '61, '66, '69), which would give his trainer, Gordon McCann a record of the same amount of wins, while Hall of Fame jockey Sandy Hawley has the most wins by a rider with five, his last coming in 1996 aboard Highland Vixen. In 1991, Dance Smartly would win the Star Shoot and eventually become the Canadian Triple Crown Winner beating the boys in the Canadian Classics. The fastest, current time for the race was run back in 1972 by Happy Victory in 1:10.00. In 2008, the winner was Verdana Bold, who won with Emile Ramsammy up and ironically will be running on the same weekend on Saturday April 18th, 2009 in the Whimsical Stakes Gr.III.

The Star Shoot Stakes '09: With a small, but talented field of six fillies, this season's Star Shoot promises to be a challenging speed duel with all six horses having a good shot at winning, being no real clear cut favorite. Here's a look at this year's field by post position:

1 Campfire Girl by Forest Camp out of Leah's Gold(Slew o' Gold) Own: Equilease Racing Stable and Allan Sch, Trainer: John Charalambous, Jockey: Gerry Olguin

2 Double Malt by Whiskey Wisdom out of Matching Sox(Tale of the Cat) Own: M Ambler and Partners, Trainer: Malcolm Pierce, Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva

3 Deeveetee by Doneraile Court out of Diamonds to Me(Belong to Me) Own: Ryan S Afonso, Trainer: Mark Casse, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

4 Koonunga Hill by Wonneberg out of Easy to Praise(Alwuhush) Own: Empress Stables, Trainer: Steve Owens, Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson

5 Sans Sousi by Bold Executive out of Ada Dancer(Dance Brightly) Own: Eaton Hall Farm and M J Doyle Racing, Trainer: Michael J Doyle, Jockey: Jono Jones

6 Milwaukee Appeal by Milwaukee Brew out of Appealing Forum(Open Forum) Own:C E C Farms, Trainer: Scott Fairlie, Jockey: Na Samsonith

The Skinny: This is a very good field of sophomore fillies and as mentioned earlier, it is up for grabs, for any of the six to win the Star Shoot. As horse racing fans know, there will have to be a favorite on the tote board and judging the field by the numbers and connections, Deeveetee should go off, at post time, as the one to beat. Deeveetee has been winter raced at Santa Anita on the west coast in California and she did manufacture a win in an optional claiming event, scoring a very nice Beyer of 82. She has two life time wins for Woodbine's leading trainer of 2008, Mark Casse, and is a very consistent runner who looks to have matured since her last Woodbine start. With Patrick Husbands aboard you can bet she will get a good ride from start to finish. She will want to prove herself against an old foe in Sans Sousi.

Sans Sousi will also be looking to take down some of her 2008 rivals at Woodbine, such as Koonunga Hill, Double Malt and Milwaukee Appeal. Sans Sousi has already had a taste of the oval this spring in the La Voyageuse, an overnight stakes held on Woodbine's opening day. The Mike Doyle trainee will look to improve on her place finish in that race, posting a 67 Beyer speed figure, and try to score her first stakes victory. She has finished second in four of six stakes races lifetime and has earned just over 140k in her career. Jono Jones is listed as Sans Sousi's rider, but, we have not seen Jones in action yet this season, so don't be surprised if Chantal Sutherland gets the call again. It definitely won't hurt her chances.

Malcolm Pierce will send out a dandy of a filly in Double Malt, who certainly showed improvement late in the season at Woodbine in 2008. Double Malt scored back-to-back wins, first in a Maiden Special Weight contest and then going two turns in the South Ocean Stakes, taking both races by open lengths. She too will be looking to improve off her start in the La Voyageuse on April 4th, where she lacked finish and posted a 62 Beyer. Pierce had the daughter of Whiskey Wisdom training down south at the Fairgrounds in Louisiana all winter so she should be ready and should like getting an extra furlong in the Star Shoot.

Milwaukee Appeal is exactly that... appealing. She should gain interest on the tote board after a very good 2008 campaign. The Scott Fairlie filly picked up three wins last season, including the Ontario Lassie Stakes in November. She has earnings just under $180,000 lifetime and has hit the board in five of six races, the one she missed on was a turf contest where she was never in contention and Star Shoot rival Koonunga Hill finished third there. She has never posted a Beyer higher than 69 and appeared to like to go longer at the end of the '08 season, though she has won at the distance of six furlongs. Milwaukee Appeal is one of Fairlie's bright three-year-old stars, the other being the very impressive Cawaja Beach.

Steve Owens will be sending out a very gifted and gritty filly in Koonunga Hill. She is a star in the making. She is much stronger this season than last and is proving to be a monster, outworking an established older horse and stablemate, Head Chopper, on April 4th going six furlongs. She had a score in the Ice Water Stakes last August and will certainly love the challenge of rival Sans Sousi who would beat her last season in the Shady Well only to be disqualified, placing Koonunga Hill into third. She should also benefit from not seeing her arch nemesis Cawaja Beach, the Fairlie trainee who would beat her time and again last season, though the rematch will hopefully be played out later this season. Koonunga Hill is a very consistent runner having a high Beyer of 77 and she has lifetime earnings over 170k.

Finally, John Charalambous will be bringing back the lightly raced filly Campfire Girl. This daughter of Forest Camp had only seen the oval four times last year but was very diligent and showed how good she is at Pimlico, where she finished third in a stakes event, against very tough company. The Star Shoot shall prove to be just as tough as Campfire Girl has never faced these fillies though her Beyer speed figures, at this distance, suggest that she will be just as vigorous as the rest. With one win in four tries and earnings of just under $50,000 she will be looking to add to her totals here.

My Picks: 4-3-6

Please feel free to post your comments and picks for the 54th running of the Star Shoot Stakes. Read more!

Saturday, April 18th, 2009 - Whimsical Stakes Gr. III, Fillies and Mares, Four-Year-Olds and Upward, Six Furlongs

History Lesson: The Whimsical Stakes was inaugurated into Canadian thoroughbred horse racing in 1956. Originally run at Greenwood, in Toronto, the stakes race had also been run at Fort Erie and currently at Woodbine Racetrack since 1986. The Whimsical has also seen it's share of different distances and surfaces ranging from six furlongs to a mile on the dirt, the turf in 1967, and currently on Woodbine's polytrack. Longtime Woodbine trainer Tony Mattine shares the record for most wins by a trainer with four; his outstanding mare Prospective Dolly winning three times ('91, '93, '94) also a record, though shared with none. The other two trainers sharing the record are the renowned Jerry C. Meyer and Yonnie Starr. The late Dave Penna holds the record for wins by a jockey with six with the next in line at four (current rider David Clark). The 2008 edition of the Whimsical saw the new current six furlong record time of 1:09.71 by the Nick Gonzalez trainee My List, ridden by Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Whimsical Stakes Gr.III '09: This year's Whimsical promises to be a thriller of a race for the $150,000 purse, which will include some of Woodbine's hometown favorites and a very sharp looking individual shipping in from the U.S.A. . Here's a look at the field by the slotted post positions:

1 Arden Belle by Dance Brightly out of Bow Bells Reef(Virgina Rapids) Own: Salt and Pepper Stable, Trainer: Robert Gerl, Jockey: Emile Ramsammy

2 Smart Surprise by Smart Strike out of Weekend Storm(Storm Bird) Own: Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings Inc, Trainer: Josie Carroll, Jockey: David Clark

3 Proud Heiress by Broken Vow out of Raise a Carter(Dr. Carter) Own: Michael Cavey, Trainer: Wayne D. Mogge, Jockey: Robert Landry

4 Hello Maggie May by Lemon Drop Kid out of Fantasy Lake(Salt Lake) Own: Windahaven, Trainer: Roger Attfield, Jockey: Jono Jones

5 Dancing Allstar by Millennium Allstar out of High On Believen(Honor Grades) Own: Bahadur Cheema, Trainer: Terry Jordan, Jockey: Jim McAleney

6 London Snow by Trajectory out of Muriel(Bold Executive) Own: Kirk Bradden Stables Inc, Trainer: John Charalambous, Jockey: Steve Bahen

7 Mimi Cooper by R.Cooper out of Bella Stellina(Pass the Line) Own: Geoff Roy, Trainer: Wray I. Lawrence, Jockey: Justin Stein

8 Verdana Bold by Rahy out of True Legacy(GB)(A.P. Indy) Own: Edward A. Seltzer, Trainer: Daniel J. Vella, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro

The Skinny: This race is full of class and speed, whether coming from the break, or closing down the stretch. The Terry Jordan mare, Dancing Allstar, will likely go to the front out of the gate, as she is loaded with speed, being a very natural sprinter. She has had success at Woodbine with earnings over $100,000 including a win in the '07 edition of the My Dear Stakes. She only had one visit to Woodbine last year and it proved to be very tough for her, as she did not fare well finishing seventh in the Duchess Stakes, six and a half lengths back of the winner. She hasn't run since August, 2008.

Another mare with a long layoff (Aug. '08) is Danny Vella's Verdana Bold. She has plenty of stakes experience including back-to-back wins in last spring's Star Shoot Stakes and the Selene Stakes (Gr.III). She will break from the outside post, in the eight hole, but that shouldn't bother her, as she will have early speed to get her into position amongst the leaders. Her Beyers are consistent, but they are not necessarily as good as the rest of the field.

Long layoffs do not always mean a horse needs a race to get back to form, as the Wray Lawrence student Mimi Cooper has proven already this season. The four-year-old has come out winning in her first start this year amongst allowance company on opening day at Woodbine, posting an eighty Beyer figure. It was only two weeks ago though and the group of horses this time around are much tougher. Anyone who has seen her race knows she has a lot of grit and will likely rally down the stretch trying to pass her foes. Her last and first stakes race was in the '08 season trying the Ontario Colleen, where she stretched out to a mile, only to falter late finishing fourth.

There are two winter raced mares in the Whimsical this year. Josie Carroll's Smart Surprise, and the ship-in trained by Wayne Mogge, Proud Heiress. Smart Surprise will be anything but a surprise if she wins this race. She has posted very good Beyer figures since coming into Carroll's care. Two starts ago she ran a 107 Beyer winning easily at Fairgrounds in the Chou Croute Handicap by six and a quarter lengths and she has won three out of her four races at Woodbine. She should be the one to beat, especially with David Clark aboard, vying for his fifth Whimsical victory. The daughter of Smart Strike has only missed the board once in sixteen lifetime starts, that being this past March in the Azeri Stakes Gr.III, at Oaklawn Park, when she finished fifth.

Proud Heiress has been very good at the start of her '09 campaign as well. The Mogge trainee has posted mid-ranged eighties Beyer figures and has plenty of synthetic track experience. The distance here will fit her running style just fine, as she will probably let the pack get just ahead of her, saving herself for a late stretch run. Ship-ins have not been overly dominant at Woodbine in the past, but, Proud Heiress should see some action on the tote board.

The Windhaven home-bred, Hello Maggie May, will give a third lifetime stakes try. She scored last season at Woodbine in the Ruling Angel, going six and a half furlongs, where she posted a very nice 88 Beyer for Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield. A possible concern here is that the filly's rider, Jono Jones, has not been riding yet this year, and may not be here this weekend. Jones is tip top when it comes to stakes competition and if anyone is going to bring Maggie home for the win, it'll be him.

John Charalambous is sending out a very classy individual and Woodbine fave in London Snow. The six-year-old mare has career earnings of over 450k and has been a star for the outfit for many seasons. Late last year London Snow appeared to be slowing down as she finished, uncharacteristically, out of the money in three straight races where she posted poor Beyers in two of the three. Her last race of the season in '08 was against rivals Smart Surprise and Arden Belle, where she finished tenth of ten and posted a 58 Beyer. Charalambous will certainly like to see her come back to form here.

And at last, Arden Belle. A very well rounded mare with earnings surpassing $500,000, this mare is always in for a good old-fashioned tear down the racecourse. The daughter of Dance Brightly has posted consistent Beyer figures in the eighties for all but one race of her '08 campaign. She will definitely be a fan favorite here as she knows the Woodbine oval very well and can handle the short distances as well as the longer classics. She will be ridden by Emile Ramsammy who would love to get another win in the Whimsical, as he hasn't hit the winner's circle for this race since '95. Arden Belle and trainer Robert Gerl are certainly looking forward to the rematch with rival Smart Surprise, who would beat them in the Bessarabian by four and a half lengths in '08.

My Picks: 2-1-7

Please feel free to leave your comments and picks for the 54th running of the Whimsical Stakes Gr.III. Read more!

El Brujo Dominates the 57th Running of the Achievement Stakes

El Brujo came through today with a huge effort winning the 57th running of the Achievement Stakes. The Windways Farm Limited homebred gelding, by Candy Ride(ARG), won easily this afternoon on the Woodbine polytrack in a final time of 1:09.21 at the distance of six furlongs. The Malcom Pierce trainee had never won a stakes race as a two-year-old and the pressure was on him today as he was a 9/5 favorite in the morning line and going off at 4/5 at post time.

The break from the gate was a little bumpy as five of the seven runners jostled for position and the lead. El Brujo, coming out of the five hole, vied with his foes for the first quarter, and went head to head with rival Win and Reign who later faded out of contention, around the turn and took off, as rider Patrick Husbands, set down the young gelding into an all out drive for home. Drawing away from the pack El Brujo would get the win by 8 3/4 lengths. Second place finisher, My Bad, ran a big race breaking sharply from the gate where he would stay five wide until the turn where he could get a little tighter, three wide, and chased El Brujo to the wire. Show horse, Bucephalus, was left at the gate and was last coming out of the turn for home, but, he found a seam inside and fleetly passed his rivals, missing second by 3/4 of a length. Mega Rush had also been left behind at the break and stalked the five horse pack around the turn , but he didn't have enough late energy to get up for third behind half a length. As mentioned above, Win and Reign did not stay in contention down the stretch after duelling with four other front runners around the turn he faded back into fifth a length back of Mega Rush. Foxy Lion vied up front the whole way around the turn and tired into the stretch finishing a length and a quarter back of Win and Reign. Lastly, the maiden Silver Rocket would have his worst career outing tiring around the turn and finishing last back seven lengths.

Click here for the results:

http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/summary/WO041109CAN-EQB.html#RN6

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April 11th, 2009- Achievement Stakes for Three-Year-Olds, Foaled in Ontario, Six Fulongs

History Lesson: The Achievement Stakes inaugural year into racing was in 1953 when it was ran at Fort Erie Racetrack at a distance of 1 1/16 miles. Over the years the race has found three different homes, Fort Erie, Greenwood, and currently at Woodbine and four different distances, between 6 furlongs and a mile and a sixteenth. The race had also found its way to the turf for many seasons ('58-'67). Since its first running in '53, the Achievement has had six winners go on to win the Queen's Plate, the last time being over twenty years ago in 1988(Regal Intention). Not Bourbon(2008 Queen's Plate winner) could not quite get it done last year, finishing second to Stuck in Traffic, ridden by David Clark; who is currently tied with Sandy Hawley for the most wins by a jockey in the Achievement with six. Hall of Fame conditioner Roger Attfield holds the record for most wins by a trainer with four, and the legendary E.P. Taylor's Windfield Farms owns the record for most wins by an owner with five victories. In 2006, Reade Baker's trainee Tothemoonandback set the modern day record at six furlongs, at a time of 1:08.33, winning the $150,000 stakes with rider Jim McAleney aboard.

Achievement Stakes '09: This seasons Achievement Stakes looks to be a strong field of sophmores with the majority of runners having experience in stakes company, many of which will renew acquaintances. There are seven individuals, here's a look at the field by post position:

1. Bucephalus by Cape Canaveral out of May Time (Cure the Blues) Own: Knob Hill Farm, Trainer: Kevin Attard, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro

2. Win and Reign by Tomahawk out of Its a Ruby (Rubiano) Own: Hillsbrook Farms, Trainer: Nick Gonzalez, Jockey: Jim McAleney

3. Foxy Lion by Foxtrail out of Lioness Inthe Sand (Line In The Sand) Own: Carol A. Cullen, Trainer: Nick Gonzalez, Jockey: Chad Beckon

4. Silver Rocket by Mutakddim out of Launch the Rocket (Forest Wildcat) Own: Sprott Racing Inc., Trainer: Gail Cox, Jockey: David Clark

5. El Brujo by Candy Ride (ARG) out of Enchanted Spell (Devil's Bag) Own: Windways Farm Limited, Trainer: Malcolm Pierce, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

6. Mega Rush by Megas Vukefalos out of Solina (Wild Rush) Own: T V Stables, Trainer: Michael DePaulo, Jockey: Eurico Rosa DaSilva

7. My Bad by Endeavor out of My Sweet Tooch (Tejabo) Own: Tucci Stables, Trainer: Nick Gonzalez, Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson

The Skinny: Nick Gonzalez is sending out three runners here; looking to repeat last years triumph with Stuck in Traffic. Win and Reign, Foxy Lion and My Bad will all compete to win, but, the reality is that Win and Reign is the toughest and more experienced of the three. The colt; one of two in the race, has already won in stakes company and has only missed a cheque once in five lifetime starts and he has earnings of just over $130,000. His stablemates, on the other hand, have only six lifetime starts between them. My Bad has done well in the past, but, the young Tucci homebred had a troubled start to his last race of the '08 campaign and finished poorly in his only stakes competition of his career. Foxy Lion has never raced in a stakes class race, and though the horse's Beyer's figures are on the rise, the company in this race may prove to be too much.

Bucephalus is coming into this one with the longest layoff of the whole field, unraced since his poor showing in the August 10th/08 Vandal Stakes. This young colt will look to bounce back for trainer Kevin Attard and young jock Tyler Pizarro, who will ride him for the first time. Don't count this one out as he has won in stakes company and put up a 75 Beyer while doing so in last year's Clarendon Stakes, as a maiden, defeating rivals El Brujo and Silver Rocket. Only three lifetime starts and has earned over $100,000.

Gail Cox's resilience to win a stakes race with her maiden Silver Rocket continues on Saturday afternoon. This son of Mutakddim gives a great effort everytime out hitting the board six out of seven races, but he just can't find the winner's circle. David Clark will be aboard once again, looking to become the only jock to have seven wins in the Achievement, but the duo will face rivals El Brujo, Win and Reign and Bucephalus which he has never finished ahead of any of the three. Silver Rocket has earned over $100,000 as a maiden.

Mike DePaulo brings an experienced sophmore to the group. With seven lifetime starts, Mega Rush will be looking to build on last season. Finding his first and only win against maidens in September, Mega Rush finished the season off with mediocre, if not poor, efforts. Running in the Frost King Stakes showed that he was out of his class and made the immediate switch to an allowance race to finish off the '08 campaign, which did not prove overly well for the son of Megas Vukefalos, as he finished a poor fourth, five lengths back of the winner. This race may tell where this horse goes next, more than likely allowance company.

Finally, we get to El Brujo, the young son of Candy Ride(ARG). Malcolm Pierce has taken this horse down south to New Orleans for training all winter and his last published work comes out of Keenland which may give him an advantage to the rest of the field's long layoffs. El Brujo has also been the most consistant in the Beyer figure department, posting five straight races between 72 and 77 Beyers, pretty impressive. Though he may not be the first choice here, he will be a top contender as he has never missed the tote board and never finished worse that third. The only thing to stop him are his rivals Win and Reign and Bucephalus who have both beaten El Brujo last season. Another intersting fact is that El Brujo has yet to win in stakes company, even with lifetime earnings of just over $190,000.

My Picks: 5-2-4

Please feel free to post your own picks and comments for the 57th running of the Achievement Stakes. A review of the race will be posted Saturday evening.

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Stakes Race Schedule for April

Here are the upcoming stakes for the month of April:

* Races in BROWN are on the Polytrack
* Races in GREEN are on the Turf


Saturday April 11th - Achievment Stakes $150,000 Guar. (for Three-Year-Olds, Foaled in Ontario, 6F.)


Saturday April 18th- Whimsical Stakes Gr.III $150,000 Guar. (for Fillies & Mares, Four-Year-Olds & Upward, 6F.)

Sunday April 19th- Star Shoot Stakes $150,000 Guar. (for Three-Year-Old Fillies, 6F.)

Saturday April 25th- Jacques Cartier Stakes $150,000 Guar. (for Four-Year-Old & Upward, 6F.)

Sunday April 26th- Woodstock Stakes $150,000 Guar. (for Three-Year-Olds, 6F. Read more!