Saturday June 13th, 2009 - Ballade Stakes (An Ontario SIre Stakes), Fillies & Mares, Three-Year-Olds & Upward, Six Furlongs

History Lesson: The Ballade Stakes is rather new to Canadian thoroughbred racing being introduced in 1997 at Woodbine Racetrack. It has always been run at a distance of six furlongs, first over a dirt surface and now over the polytrack at the Toronto oval. The race has several records that are tied up between two or more parties. The most wins by a trainer has a four-way tie between Bob Tiller, Mort Hardy, Wray Lawrence and Sid Attard at two wins a piece. There is a three-way tie for most wins by a horse with Barlee Mist, Mysterious Affair and Brass In Pocket all with two wins. As far as owners go, Frank DiJulio Jr., Mort Hardy and Barlee Farm all have two victories in the Ballade. Richard Dos Ramos is the lone record holder for most wins by a jockey with three. Bob Tiller's trainee Brass In Pocket holds the current record time in the race in 1:09.08 set in 2004.

Ballade Stakes 2009: This is the 13th running of the Ontario Sire Stakes race and it is looking very promising with a good looking field of twelve fillies and mares ready to battle for the $125,000 purse. However, the field may shrink in size as four horses are also entered into Sunday's overnight stakes event, the Zadracarta, on the E.P. Taylor turf course. The

Here is a look at the field by post position:

1 Executive Flight by Bold Executive out of Harvest the Sky (Skywalker) Own: William A. Sirokolit Jr., Trainer: Darwin Banach, Jockey: Emile Ramsammy

2 Mia d'Cougar by D'Wildcat out of Matter of Law (Matter of Honor) Own: Brenda L. Goodlet, Trainer: Tino Attard, Jockey: Chantal Sutherland

3 You Will Love Me by One Way Love out of Trinnon (Anshan (GB)) Own: William G. Jones, Trainer: Earl Barnett, Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva

4 Authenicat by D'Wildcat out of Authenic Deed (Alydeed) Own: Vinery Stables LLC and Fog City Stables, Trainer: Josie Carroll, Jockey: Robert Landry

5 Impossible Time by Not Impossible (Ire) out of Classiest Carat (Pleasant Colony) Own: Charles E. Fipke, Trainer: Roger Attfield, Jockey: Jono Jones

6 Only If Split by One Way Love out of She's A Devil (Devil's Bag) Own: K.K. Sangara, Trainer: Lorne Richards, Jockey: Justin Stein

7 Bent Attorney by Crown Attorney out of Dynamite Dancer (Lite the Fuse) Own: Centennial Farms Inc., Trainer: Donald C. MacRae, Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson

8 Nicki Knew by Tethra out of Panteccaria (San Romano) Own: Knob Hill Stable, Trainer: Kevin Attard, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro

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

10 Kaleidoscope Kerry by One Way Love out of Kerry Dancer (Bold Executive) Own: Domenic Truimbari, Trainer: John A. Ross, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

11 Jovial Jill by Bold Executive out of Jovial Blast (Lite the Fuse) Own: Shyman Farm, Trainer: Martin Drexler, Jockey: Slade Callaghan

12 Krz Exec by Bold Executive out of Krz Lady (Regal Intention) Own: Sylon Stable and Partner, Trainer: Michael De Paulo, Jockey: Jerry Baird


The Skinny: This sprint brings a good group of fillies and mares, but the question is: How big will this field be by Saturday afternoon? Bent Attorney, Krz Exec, London Snow and Executive Flight are all entered into a turf sprint on Sunday, the Zadracarta Stakes, an overnight stakes event. Either way it should be an exciting race and we should keep our eyes on the likes of Kaleidoscope Kerry, Authenicat and Only If Split who are all very tough individuals.

Executive Flight is a classy old mare going into the Ballade for her first race from the winter layoff. She's a consistent earner with the majority of her earnings coming over the Woodbine poly or dirt, which may give us an indication of whether or not she will race in here or Sunday's Zadracarta, a turf race. Executive Flight would have only one win last season, albeit the Sweet Briar Too Stakes and hit the board with a second and three third place finishes as well, accruing over 130k in earnings. The Banach trainee would start the '08 campaign off in this race finishing third to rivals London Snow and Only If Split, so she would love to get some revenge here. The mare would have her last work in a very respectable flat minute over five furlongs on June 7th. She certainly looks ready, but the six-year-old may need this race for conditioning.

Krz Exec is sent out by Mike De Paulo for her first stint off the shelf in '09. She would only have three races last year, but she would have success winning the Ontario Damsel Stakes over the E.P. Taylor turf course. The daughter of Bold Executive may take her chances in the Zadracarta on Sunday, as it may be more to her suiting, being on the turf and also that Krz Exec would be able to avoid rivals Authenicat, Nicki Knew and Kaleidoscope Kerry, three horses that have beat her in the past. She has a nice looking record of 9-4-0-0 with earning surpassing 300k. If she stays for the Ballade, she will need a big effort to beat these foes, looking elsewhere.

Trainer John Charalambous has London Snow listed in both the Ballade and the turf stakes, the Zadracarta. It would appear by the stats that this mare would be better off here as she has not scored on the turf in a very long while. The only possible reason she might go to the Zadracarta is that she has not performed well over the polytrack at Woodbine over her last four starts, going back to 2008. In her only start this year, the Whimsical Stakes Gr. III, London Snow did not fare well finishing seventh, eight and a half lengths off the winner. She would post a dismal 67 Beyer figure, much lower than what she is capable of. She's had almost two months off and her last published work was a half-mile in 49 seconds flat. London Snow was the winner of this contest last season so don't count her out, but she will certainly need to find her form against this group.

Don MacRae's trainee Bent Attorney is the last of four fillies and mares with double entries from the Ballade and Zadracarta. She too, may want to stay here in the Ballade as she has amassed the majority of her earnings over the Woodbine poly. The Crown Attorney mare has been solid for her outfit since being claimed last year with two consecutive wins to close out '08 and two consecutive seconds to start '09, all of which would be against allowance company. She would post four straight Beyer's in the mid to high 80's in all of the last four starts. She's a good stalking mare who looks like she will be able make this move up in class with ease and readiness. Wilson aboard is an asset as the two have been a very successful duo. Keep an eye out for her, if she runs.

Mia d'Cougar is a very nice looking individual in this year's Ballade, she has talent to go short or long and has been everything trainer Tino Attard could ask for since claiming her for $25,000 last September. She has been running against allowance company and makes a move up, but so do a few others in this field, so it's not a big move. She got the win in her first time out this season on May 20th and has since come back to work five furlongs in 1:02 3/5. The daughter of D'Wildcat will have Chantal Sutherland aboard and she has been doing everything right over the last few weeks. The duo should be a threat stalking the leaders and making their move around the turn into the stretch. Chance for a cheque here.

Another returnee to he Ballade is You Will Love Me and she will be getting her first start of 2009 this Saturday. The Barnett trainee has an impressive 17-6-4-2 record with earnings of $471,992 and has the experience of stakes contests to know what she has to do to win. She will probably sit mid-pack throughout the race, looking to rally late for the wire. Being her first start of the season, she may need to get this race into her before we see her at top form, though she appears to be working well, with a half-mile breeze in :48 1/5 on June 8th. Waiting for second start.

Impossible Time is sent out by trainer Roger Attfield for her fourth race of 2009. She is a very lightly raced four-year-old with a record of 4-2-1-0 and earnings just over 80k. She would finish second behind Mia d'Cougar in her last start on May 20th in an allowance test, but should handle the move up just fine. She breezed a very nice half-mile in :47 4/5 on June 7th and will certainly be in tough against these more experienced fillies and mares, but Attfield has pulled these ones out before.

Nicki Knew will come out for Knob Hill Farm trainer Kevin Attard for her second start of the season. The four-year-old filly has posted a 12-3-2-4 record and over 340k in earnings in the bank. She can handle sprints or routes and may be using this second start of the year to ready herself for a longer race down the road. She has never posted a Beyer over 79, but she is always right there taking on foes with a lot of grit and determination. She could be tough on this day as hot jockey Tyler Pizarro takes the reins, looking to get the outfit it's first Woodbine winner in '09. Like her in a longer race.

Only If Split is getting her first start off the shelf for high win percentage trainer Lorne Richards. She was second to London Snow in the Ballade last year and is a tough mare to leave out. She did not end her '08 campaign very well and looks to bounce back in '09 against some tough company. With $348,053 in earnings and five career wins, Only If Split is a true sprinter and should benefit from the light weight of 115lbs. Justin Stein gets the call and will be the mare's sixth different rider in her last seven starts. She would work a half-mile in :50 4/5 on June 7th and though it isn't much to talk about, bettors should know that the outfit clicks at 33% on a layoff over 180 days, that's something to yak about.

Conditioner Josie Carroll sends out the very intriguing filly Authenicat. She has been an absolute treat to watch at Woodbine over the last couple years. She has accumulated over 540k and has an impressive 16-5-6-2 record lifetime. Authenicat has very good speed in the late going and can hold off her foes when needed. She finished third posting an 88 Beyer in the Grade III Hendrie Stakes, which was her second start of the year on May 10th. She will carry 122lbs, the most in the group, but that should not deter the gambling public as she will likely be the top choice in the morning line and by post time. She last worked on June 8th going a half-mile in :49 2/5. Put her in the top three for sure.

Kaleidoscope Kerry has come off her injury in '08 just fine, as she has produced a win and a second place effort in her first two starts of 2009. Trainer John Ross has his little filly making the step up from allowance company and she certainly seems ready. Both her starts this year have resulted with Beyer figures in the mid-eighties and she should certainly benefit from the light weight of 115lbs in this one. She had been carrying 123 in her last start against open company for the first time and was very impressive on the rail trying to get to foe Miss Juicy. The daughter of One Way Love has accrued just over 136k and a very good record of 7-3-1-1 in her lightly raced career. She will be tough on this day, no doubt. Don't leave her out of the mix.

Jovial Jill appears to be tailing off in her young career. She comes into the Ballade out of the claiming ranks, beaten by $20,000 claimers on May 30th by five and one-quarter lengths. She was claimed that day by new owner Shyman Farm. Her past has seen her win against allowance company and even a fourth place finish in the '08 edition of the Passing Mood Stakes, though it was not a very game effort. She will carry a light weight of 115lbs, though it doesn't look like it will make much a difference as the filly appears to be outclassed in this event. Last worked May 23rd in 1:03 4/5 over five furlongs. She doesn't look to be of any interest on this day.

My Picks: 10-4-6

Please feel free to leave your comments and picks for the 13th running of the Ballade Stakes. Read more!

Wednesday June 10th, 2009 - Bold Ruckus Stakes (An Ontario Sire Stakes), Three-Year-Olds, Six Furlongs

Unfortunately, there was no time allotted for this stakes race Wednesday night. Here are the final results: http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/WO061009CAN4.pdf Read more!

Milwaukee Appeal Romps in 54th Edition of the Woodbine Oaks (presented by Budweiser)

C.E.C. Farms home-bred filly Milwaukee Appeal would run a spectacular race in the final feature race on Sunday June 7th at Woodbine Racetrack capturing the Woodbine Oaks Stakes (presented by Budweiser).

The 54th running of the Woodbine Oaks was a much anticipated event for Canadian thoroughbred race fans as a field of thirteen fillies would go around the Toronto oval over a distance of a mile and one-eighth, vying for the $500,000 purse. Trainer Scott Fairlie would pick up his first Oaks victory as his filly Milwaukee Appeal would win the event by three and three-quarter lengths.

The race would start out great for Milwaukee Appeal, breaking smoothly and going to the front of the pack, while second place finisher Tasty Temptation would miss the break and play catch-up the majority of the race. Koonunga Hill would take the lead from Milwaukee Appeal before the first turn and set the pace going down the backstretch, going a half-mile in forty-eight and change and taking a two and a half length lead on Milwaukee Appeal, who was followed by maiden Indigo North and behind her First Circle and Politelyprecocious, with Miss Blakely coming up between them. In the meantime, Tasty Temptation was making up ground the whole way starting an early run for the leaders, using up vital energy early on. By the top of the second turn Koonunga Hill would begin to fade to Milwaukee Appeal and Tasty Temptation, who came out of the clouds and they would pass her and come into the home-stretch with the Fairlie trainee taking a short lead on Tasty Temptation . Rider Stewart Elliott would have much more left in his filly though and gave her some left-handed encouragement to run on and she would do just that, kicking away from Mark Cassie's Tasty Temptation by over three lengths to pick up her $300,000 share of the purse. Finishing third was ship-in Miss Blakely nosing out the other southern invader, Wynning Ride both back a fair margin of Tasty Temptation.

For full results to the 54th edition of the Woodbine Oaks Stakes (presented by Budweiser) click here: http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/WO060709CAN9.pdf Read more!

Woodsmoke Noses Out Ship-In Pull Dancer in Alywow Stakes

The second feature race on Sunday June 7th at Woodbine had an exhilarating finish with Mike Keogh trainee Woodsmoke edging out a driving Pull Dancer at the wire to take the $100,000, six and a half furlong event over the E.P. Taylor turf course.

On a day threatened with rain by an overcast sky, Mike Keogh's fleet footed filly Woodsmoke would capture her third victory of the '09 campaign in the Alywow Stakes. It would be the filly's first try on the grass and resulted in an exciting finish as ship-in Pull Dancer, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, rallied and just missed at the wire for a win-photo result.

The break from the gate would see Essence of Silver on top, only to be short lived as Woodsmoke would use her early speed to get away from the field. The daughter of Langfuhr would set the fractions throughout the race, running the first quarter in :23.17 and taking a four length lead into the turn. Young journeyman Tyler Pizarro and Woodsmoke come out of the turn into the home stretch with what looked a comfortable lead. The E.P. Taylor turf course has a very long home stretch though and Woodsmoke would have the field chasing her down putting on some serious pressure. Woodsmoke was roughly five-wide off the rail leaving room for a rallying group of fillies including ship-in Pull Dancer, who came in between Fleet Streak and the fence to challenge Pizarro and the Fury Stakes winner. It would come right down to the wire, with a win photo going to Woodsmoke, who held on courageously in a final time of 1:15.44.

For full results to the 8th running of the Alywow Stakes click here: http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/WO060709CAN6.pdf Read more!

Awesome Rhythm Wins Easily in VIctoria Park

Sunday June 7th at Woodbine Racetrack had three feature races, starting with the 23rd running of the Victoria Park Stakes. Conditioner John Ross' Awesome Rhythm was the morning-line favorite at 4/5 and would win with ease by open lengths in the $150,000 contest.

The Sunday card was packed with racing excitement and though the Victoria Park Stakes had a small field of four, due to the scratch of Kennisis River, the fans could still appreciate a fantastic show of athleticism by Kentucky-bred Awesome Rhythm. After the break from the gate, Counter Move would get in front to set the pace, followed by Life Goes On and settling in third Awesome Rhythm. The opening quarter was very relaxed in :25.16 and would see Life Goes On come closer to Counter Move, challenging for the lead out of the first turn. By the half-mile marker Life Goes On would have a small lead, while Awesome Rhythm would come off the rail, keeping up with his two front-running rivals. Around the second turn Counter Move would begin to fade while Jimmy McAleney and Awesome Rhythm challenged Life Goes On and would easily go by him on the outside, coming out of the turn, into the home stretch on top by a couple lengths. The duo would then open up a massive lead on the small field, handily winning by eight and a half lengths, capturing their third stakes race in a row. The final time of the mile and one-eighth victory was 1:51.12.

For complete results to the 23rd running of the Victoria Park Stakes click here: http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/WO060709CAN3.pdf Read more!

Ice Bear Claws Way to WIre in Eclipse Stakes

The 54th running of the Grade III Eclipse Stakes came to an enthralling end as Mac Benson trainee, Ice Bear, and rider Chantal Sutherland would eke out a neck victory in the one mile and one-sixteenth, $150,000 event.

The second feature race on the Saturday card at Woodbine Racetrack would see a fantastic finish to the wire, as Ice Bear, the 2-1 post time favorite would get by on the inside rail, driving to victory. The race started off with 40-1 shot Judith's Wild Rush dictating the pace, taking a lenghty lead on the rest of the field. As the old horse would continue to set fractions on the front end, Ice Bear would sit back of Approval Rating and Equitable in fourth positioin, roughly six lengths off the pace, down the backstertch. As Sutherland waited for the right moment, Approval Rating began making his run at Judith's Wild Rush around the half-mile pole. Around the final turn Judith's Wild rush would be swallowed up by the field, leaving Approval Rating in the lead with Equitable a close second and Ice Bear making his bid in third, all the while Marchfield started making a run for the front runners way of the pace, second to last. At the top of the stretch Ice Bear would be dropped in on the rail by Sutherland, hard ridden chasing down Approval Rating and at the same time Marchfield had come wide around the field into contention looking to pass all his rivals down the home stretch. Approval Rating would grudgingly give way at the sixteenth-pole to Ice Bear on his inside and watch Marchfield come up on his right on the outside as all three would come to the wire roughly a length apart. Ice Bear would get to the wire a neck in front of the surging Marchfield while Approval Rating would finish third one and a quarter-lengths back. Ice Bear would win in a final time of 1:43.38, capturing the sixty-percent share.

Rider Chantal Sutherland is quick to give credit to trainer Mac Benson and her horse, "Mac just said ride how it comes out, which is really cool. He(Ice Bear) settled really nice for me into the backside and around the three-eighths pole, I saw Eurico position himself outside, so the race kinda opened up for me with a hole on the inside, so I went inside and I could see that Garcia was tailing off leaving a little hole that I had to get through. Ice Bear was totally geared up and whatever I wanted he gave me. He went through on the rail with a great turn of foot, he has a ton of pump and so much heart, honestly he's just a privilege to ride and it's an honor to ride for Mac."

For full results to the 54th running of the Grade III Eclipse Stakes click here: http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/WO060609CAN8.pdf
Read more!

Michael's Bad Boy Looks Good in Steady Growth Stakes

Saturday June 6th at Woodbine Racetrack would see an impressive effort by Nick Gonzalez trained Michael's Bad Boy, as he would wire the small field of five horses in the $125,000 event.

Race four on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Woodbine, brought fans a glimpse of perfection, as Michael's Bad Boy would make easy work of his competitors in the mile and one-sixteenth Steady Growth Stakes. Right from the get-go the Gonzalez trainee, with jockey Eurico Da Silva aboard, took to the lead and set a reserved pace. After a first quarter in :24.10 Michael's Bad Boy would let the post time favorite, Dancer's Bajan, creep up on his outside along the backstretch, but once the son of Wonneberg saw his rival, he and Da Silva would begin to start running after the half-mile pole and try to distance themselves from Dancer's Bajan and Somarvelous and Yummy With Butter, who were just off the pace. By the top of the second turn, Da Silva would have his horse in a comfortable lead under a hand ride, while Husbands, aboard Dancer's Bajan, would begin to make his bid about mid-turn. It would be all for not, as Michael's Bad Boy would come to the head of the stretch in front by roughly three lengths and it was a couple of taps at the eighth-pole by Da Silva and he and his "Bad Boy" were gone, winning the 13th running of the Steady Growth by five and a half lengths in a final time of 1:43.53. Dancer's Bajan would relinquish his hold of second down the stretch to a hard ridden Yummy With Butter, only to regain the place position, nosing out his foe just before the wire.

Da Silva would reflect on the easy win, "This horse was relaxed and, with him, you can stalk or go to the lead. He went so easy on the lead and when I asked him he just continued running a beautiful race. This horse is in great shape."

For full results to the 13th running of the Steady Growth Stakes click here: http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/WO060609CAN4.pdf Read more!