History Lesson: The inaugural running of the Eclipse was at Greenwood Raceway in 1956 and was eventually run at Woodbine in 1967 until present day. The race has seen various distances over its tenure in Canadian thoroughbred racing, ranging from one mile to a mile and three-sixteenths. The current race record time was set by Ambassador B. in 1977, at 1:42.40. There are two horses that have won this race twice, going back-to-back, being Royal Chocolate ('74,'75) and Frost King ('82,'83). Hall of Fame jockey Robin Platts has won the Eclipse a record seven times and fellow Hall of Famer Gil Rowntree owns most wins by a trainer in the Eclipse with six.
Eclipse Stakes Gr. III, 2009: The eighth race on the Saturday card at Woodbine offers up a slew of accomplished horses. However, 2009 has not been this field's year, with only one winner in the group of nine (Approval Rating). There are some ship-ins, Equitable and Independent George, looking to get their share of the $150,000 purse and the rest of the field have been past winners over the Toronto oval. It's looking wide open this season as it appears there is no clear-cut favorite.
Here is a look at the field by post position:
1 Mike Fox by Giant's Causeway out of Alexis (Ire) (Alzao) Own: Firestone Farms Ltd., Trainer: Bruce Smither, Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson
2 Marchfield by A.P. Indy out of Pico Teneriffe (Red Ransom) Own: Melnyk Racing Stables Inc., Trainer: Mark Casse, Jockey: Patrick Husbands
3 Equitable by A.P. Indy out of Equilibrate (Gone West) Own: Pin Oak Stable, Trainer: Malcolm Pierce, Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva
4 Approval Rating by Lemon Drop Kid by Classic Approval (With Approval) Own: Peter Redekop B.C. Ltd., Trainer: Terry Jordan, Jockey: James McAleney
5 Ice Bear by Maria's Mon out of Bristol Pistol (Regal Classic) Own: Augustin Stable, Trainer: MacDonald Benson, Jockey: Chantal Sutherland
6 Independent George by Cozzene out of Daylight Ridge (Dayjur) Own: Bushwood Stables, Trainer: Graham Motion, Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche
7 Artie Hot by Black Minnaloushe out of Dyrco (Sandpit (Brz)) Own: Tucci Stables, Trainer: Nick Gonzalez, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro
8 Judith's Wild Rush by Wild Rush out of Tie Talk (Black Tie Affair) Own: Tenenbaum Racing Stables, Trainer: Gerald Seymour, Jockey: David Garcia
9 Cool Gator by Macho Uno out of It's a Ruby (Rubiano) Own: Hillsbrook Farms, Trainer: Ian Black, Jockey: Emile Ramsammy
The Skinny: The Eclipse is full of competitive horses that just haven't got it goin' so far in 2009. With the exception of non-starter Artie Hot and '09 race winner Approval Rating, the field is looking to get back to form for this Grade III event. There are some tough horses going on to the track and even tougher to handicap for this one. Good luck!
Approval Rating is sent out by high win percentage trainer Terry Jordan. He has one start off the shelf this year against optional-claiming allowance company, where he would get the win. That first race was used as a conditioner at six and a half furlongs and now Approval Rating gets back to his usual two turns. He is a lightly raced five-year-old (two starts '08) with a record of 12-4-1-2 and earnings of $234,451. He's the only winner in '09 in this field and looks like he'll thrive on this day, though it is uncertain if he will use his early speed or try to stalk the leaders. Can't leave him out, good connections.
Artie Hot will start for his first time in 2009 for conditioner Nick Gonzalez. He is a classy individual and was last year's Seagram Cup Gr.III winner going a mile and a sixteenth. He posts good Beyers ranging in the high eighties and low nineties consistently through his career, with a 30-5-3-4 record and over 300k in the bank. Up against rivals Mike Fox, Marchfield and Ice Bear again and has had some success, but would really have to be sharp on this day to beat them being unraced. New rider aboard this time out in Pizarro; he's been doing very well this season and can only help. May need this race to get conditioned.
Mike Fox has not been the same horse since his winning ways in '07. The horse had one win in '08 against allowance company where he beat rival Artie Hot. In his first start from the layoff, Mike Fox was not a factor in his sixth place finish in the Connaught Cup, back over ten lengths to the winner. A positive on this day is the light 115lbs he will carry, though it didn't help in the Connaught Cup over the turf. He's a proven router and if by some miracle gets back to form, he will be a contender, though it is highly unlikely on this day. Note jockey Wilson is with him and not Artie Hot, sentimental?
Marchfield is a very tough horse here at the Toronto oval. With a record of 9-3-5-0 at Woodbine and earnings of $306,684 Marchfield will come into this as a fan favorite and take some support on the tote board, though he has not started of this season's campaign with any success. The Eclipse will be his third start off the shelf for trainer Mark Casse and you can bet he'll be fit and ready since his last start in February, as his last work would suggest, going five furlongs in 1:00 4/5ths. Marchfield could take positives out of his first two starts at Santa Anita in the fact that his Beyer figures weren't too shabby at 87 and 94 respectively. Like him back at the 'Bine, great shot.
21-6-4-1 and over 500k in earnings, is what Ice Bear brings to this show. He has had success on both turf and polytrack and will certainly be a factor in the Eclipse. Mac Benson's trainee will make his second start this season after a fourth place effort in the Connaught Cup Gr.III. He had a rail trip with little or no late kick for Sutherland, but, he should improve here, being his second start. Worked June 2nd, four fulongs in :47 and two-fifths. He has not missed a cheque in his last six starts. Ice Bear does have early speed and may try to get up with the leaders from the gate, he'll need the late kick this time around. Looks to be in a good spot, Sutherland has been on in '09, like his chances.
Cool Gator is back at Woodbine again with his second start here in '09. The Macho Uno colt had been racing in Florida at Gulfstream since last year, where he would unfortunately cut his '08 season short, due to injury, after running fifth out of five in the Florida Derby Gr.I. Cool Gator has five races under his belt this year, but, has yet to get to the winner's circle, in fact he has only one lifetime win, when he broke his maiden here in Toronto in May of 2007. His first Woodbine start of 2009 may have sparked something in the colt as he would finish second against allowance company, posting an 81 Beyer. Sutherland drops him to take Ice Bear, but veteran Ramsammy can help bring this horse back to a credible racer here. Tough spot for this guy, looking elsewhere.
Equitable is a lightly raced five-year-old with a record of 12-3-2-2 and earnings of $248,126 and comes to Malcolm Pierce for his first career start at Woodbine for owners Pin Oak Stable. The son of A.P. Indy has only one stakes event in his resume, a second place finish albeit, but has had decent Beyer figures throughout his races, ranging into the nineties six times in all. This contest will be Equitable's fourth start of 2009 and first start since April 11th at Keenland. He has five published works over the Woodbine poly including a five furlong 1:01 and a fifth, May 30th. This guy looks to have stalking capability, big test on this day, outsider.
Independent George makes his return to Woodbine since last season's Nijinsky Stakes Gr.II, where he would finish five lengths of the winner in fifth position. Trainer Graham Motion sends his gelding out for the second trip of '09, after a very nice second place effort in the Henry Clark Stakes at Pimlico on April 25th. His latest work would go three-quarters of a mile in 1:15 and one-fifth on May 30th, though not at Woodbine. The six-year-old has an impressive 17-5-4-2 record with $341,507 in earnings. Independent George should be a probable favorite in the morning line and at post time. Have to respect the ship-in here.
Judith's Wild Rush is going back to a route after two consecutive sprints in the Jacques Cartier Stakes and the Vigil Stakes Gr.III, which came to be disappointing to say the least. The old-timer of the group at nine years of age, Judith's Wild Rush may have seen his time, though owner Tenenbaum seems to think otherwise. Two things to look at here that would suggest this horse is on his way out, are a trainer change to Seymour and jockey change to David Garcia. Not to say anything bad about either Seymour or Garcia, but, c'mon let's get real, when do you see these two guy's names against a group of horses like this. It's sad to think a million dollar earner like Judith's Wild Rush will get no respect here. Time to go to the breeding shed with this good ole boy.
My Picks: 5-2-6
Please feel free to leave your own comments and picks for the 54th running of the Grade III Eclipse Stakes.
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