HorseRacing Central June 19, 2009
WHAT’S ON TAP
Saturday
Belmont’s feature on Saturday is the $200,000 New York Stakes (2:17 p.m.) for fillies and mares on the turf. The heavy favourite will be the Darley Stables talented mare Criticism, winner of four of her last six starts since arriving in the U.S. from her native France.
On the west coast, Hollywood Park hosts the $100,000 Affirmed Handicap (5:00 p.m.) named after the last Triple Crown winner (1978).
Sunday
All eyes will be on Woodbine Sunday for the running of the Queen’s Plate (2:36 p.m.) for a huge $1 million purse bringing together 13 Canadian-breds to run a mile and a quarter on the main track. Two of those competitors are fillies, the one-two finishers in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks two weeks ago. Back to take on the boys are C E C Farms gifted filly Milwaukee Appeal, winner of the Oaks, who’s been installed as the 3-1 favourite followed by Plate Trial winner Eye Of The Leopard at 7-2. Then the other filly – Tasty Temptation – is the third choice at 4-1.
Local owner K.K. Sangara has summoned the world’s winningest rider Russell Baze (Vancouver born) to pilot Shut It Down, 20-1 on the morning line.
Earlier on the Plate card is the $200,000 Highlander Stakes (11:05 a.m.) for older horse grass sprinters at six furlongs followed by the $150,000 Singspsiel Stakes (1:16 p.m.) for the long-winded turf stars at a mile and a half. Featured in this one are Spice Route (McAleney) and New York invader Mission Approved (Castellano).
Of local interest, too, on Plate day Lorne Richards and K.K. Sangara will send out Touched By Madness in the third race against the Terry Jordan trainee Captain Cugat. In the eighth race the two will hook up again with Sangara’s Dancingall Theway trying to outsprint Bud Mallette’s Drunken Love. In race 10, Sangara colours will fly again with Russell Baze on Conflicting Report against Canvasback Farms B.C. bred Whiskeyontherocks in a first condition allowance race.
$100,000 UP FOR GRABS SUNDAY AT HASTINGS
The annual Father’s Day Hole-In-One contest at Hastings goes Sunday with two groups of five contestants teeing it up after the 7th and 8th races. Each player will have one shot at the hole located 160 yards away and the jackpot for getting an ‘ace’ is $100,000. Entry forms have to be deposited in the Father’s Day Draw Box located in the Winner’s Circle prior to 2:45 p.m. on Sunday. The 10 contestants will be identified in a draw after the 4th race.
Should more than one player register a hole-in-one the $100,000 will be shared equally. If nobody makes a hole-in-one, the contestant who comes closest to the pin – the ball must land on the green – wins $500 in wagering vouchers. Oh, one more thing: entrants must be 19 years or older and must be a non-professional golfer.
WOLSKI’S SPORT OF KINGS
With the 150th running of the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine Sunday, Tom Wolski and his crew with the Sport of Kings on Citytv Saturday at 11 a.m. will revisit a special moment. Tak Inouye, a long-time trainer at Hastings, was the jockey on the 1965 Queen’s Plate winner, Whistling Sea. Also on this week’s show, Jerome and Linda Partington are saluted as hard-working trainers who accomplish a lot with few resources. And what could be more pleasant on a Saturday morning than watching Carmen Thomas bringing Sport of Kings viewers up to date on various racing topics.
FRASER DOWNS: JUST TWO MORE WEEKENDS
Two more weekends, that is, of “live racing” at Fraser Downs. Simulcasting will continue throughout the summer until live racing returns in September.
Lil Be Dazzled was an upset winner of last week’s $20,000 Rising Star for 3-year-old colts and geldings. Driven by Scott Knight, Lil Be Dazzled won by ¾ of a length with Bestnotlie Hanover and Minnesota Hanover dead-heating for second. Heading into the race the Keith Clark entry of Bestnotlie Hanover and Westwood Franco were heavily favoured. Owned by the Lil Dude Ranch, Lil Be Dazzeld set a life mark by winning in 1:54.2.
