Pender Harbour Headlines Closing Day Card at Woodbine

 

Sunday's closing day, which has a first-race post time of 1:00 p.m., features 159 horses, plus 11 also-eligible runners, spread over a 14-race card.

 

Eurico Rosa da Silva, with 193 wins heading into Friday’s card (and 24 mounts remaining through Sunday), holds a 20-win lead over Luis Contreras (who has 34 mounts remaining through Sunday) and will likely be crowned leading rider.  Mark Casse leads all trainers with a decisive 77 wins, well clear of Kevin Attard who has won 47 races this meet.

Da Silva was quick to share the credit for his success this season.

"It takes teamwork," said da Silva. "My agent (Tom Patton Jr.) works very hard, I have a personal trainer who has taken care of me for the last eight years and I'm very thankful to the trainers and owners that have supported me. I have good support from great people.  I'm grateful for all the horses I've rode, even if they didn't win.  I look forward to resting up this winter and I will come back better next year.”

The $150,000 Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes, for older horses, at a mile and three-quarters, is the spotlight event on the meet's curtain-closing afternoon. It goes as race 10, a race that features eight runners including Melmich, a decisive winner of the Valedictory prep on November 5 for trainer Kevin Attard and owners Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman.

Melmich, claimed for $20,000 on September 26, 2014, has now won seven of 10 starts for his new connections including a statement score in the Elgin Stakes which earned a field-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure. Da Silva, who has guided the four-year-old Wilko chestnut to four of those wins this season, credits the trainer for the gelding's rise through the ranks to stakes winner.

"Kevin does a great job with the horse and gives the horse every opportunity to be good," said da Silva. "The horse is doing so well right now. I did work the horse (in 1:01.80 on November 22) and he is very happy and could not be coming into this race in any better shape."

Last time out, in the 1 5/8-mile Valedictory prep, Melmich stalked the leading Pender Harbour to the final turn, before making his bid and shaking clear for a driving two-length score.  

"I love the way he did it. He galloped out very strong," said da Silva. "This will be his second race going long and I don't think the extra distance will be an issue. He'll like it and this horse will run very well."

Da Silva has enjoyed watching Melmich develop this year.

"Some horses improve as they get older and this horse has been improving each start," said da Silva. "He's a much more relaxed horse now from when I first started riding him. He's never stopped improving and hopefully he can improve even more."

On Sunday, da Silva will let the race unfold as it will for the handy Melmich.

"He's quick and he has stamina. You can choose where you want to be with him," said da Silva. "If you want to be a little bit back with him, that's okay. If you want to go to the lead, he's okay there as well. He's a very easy horse to ride."

To win the Valedictory, Melmich will once again have to get the better of champion chestnut Pender Harbour who will be retired following the Valedictory.  The seven-year-old Philanthropist chestnut, trained by Mike DePaulo for owners Denny Andrews, Sandra Lazaruk, and Robert and Roberta Giffin, sports a record of 12-10-7 from 40 career starts and purse earnings in excess of $1.9-million.  

His owner have graciously donated $15,000, in Pender Harbour's name, to LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society to celebrate the end of his grand run at the races and the start of his new life and career as a riding horse in Western Canada.  A victory in the Valedictory would make Pender Harbour, a $17,000 purchase at the 2009 CTHS, the leading CTHS Sale earner of all time, passing Mobil, who won $1,951,384. Pender Harbour, who was elevated to second in this event last season via disqualification, will be piloted by Luis Contreras.

A talented field of eight also includes Grade 1-placed mare Habibi and the Grade 2-placed gelding Royal Son.

Habibi, trained by Mark Frostad for Augustin Stable, owns a record of 1-2-1 from seven starts this season including a victory in the grassy 1 1/2-mile Flaming Page Stakes.  The six-year-old Ekraar mare rallied to be second, defeated just a half-length by Interpol, in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer when facing the boys on theSeptember 14. Last time out, Habibi, again against open company, failed to fire in the Grade 1 Canadian International. Alan Garcia will ride.

Royal Son, trained by Todd Pletcher, has posted a pair of wins this season including a 5 1/4-length score in the Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park in February.  Last time out, the three-year-old Tiznow bay set the pace in the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes finishing third behind Are You Kidding Me and Lukes Alley. Emma-Jayne Wilson picks up the mount.

Patrioticandproud, Desvelo, Midnight Aria and Royal Blessing complete the field.  Last year, Turkish won the Valedictory in a time of 3:02.09.

Also on closing day is the $125,000 Display Stakes for juveniles which features shipper Don't Be So Salty and locally-based Bear'sway who arrives at the 1 1/16-mile 'Poly' stake on a two-race win streak.

Sunday's weather forecast, according to Environment Canada, is calling for a high of four degrees Celsius. 

FIELD FOR THE GRADE 3 $150,000 VALEDICTORY STAKES

POST / HORSE / JOCKEY / TRAINER

1 / Patrioticandproud / Patrick Husbands / Mark Casse

2 / Melmich / Eurico Rosa da Silva / Kevin Attard

3 / Desvelo / Gary Boulanger / Kelly Rubley

4 / Midnight Aria / Steve Bahen / Nick Gonzalez

5 / Royal Blessing / Justin Stein / Brendan Walsh

6 / Royal Son / Emma-Jayne Wilson / Todd Pletcher

7 / Habibi / Alan Garcia / Mark Frostad

8 / Pender Harbour / Luis Contreras / Mike DePaulo