Woodbine: Turf King wins Marine; stablemate tops Wonder Wheel
Turf King, backed down to even-money favouritism for the formidable combo of trainer Chad Brown and jockey Kazushi Kimura, parlayed a ground-saving trip into a half-length win over a game Kaukokaipuu in Saturday’s Grade 3, $113,260 (U.S.) Marine Stakes at Woodbine.
The 1 1/16-mile Marine, an open race for 3-year-olds, attracted a field of eight and is situated as a prep for the $755,065 (U.S) King’s Plate, the 1 1/4-mile race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.
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“When we’re battling each other, that horse (Kaikokapuuu), bumped into my horse, but my horse just hung in,” said Kimura, who also expressed the hope that Turf King could signal the start of a productive
“I would say that this is just the beginning, and I am very appreciative of Mr. Brown for giving me this opportunity,” said Woodbine’s leading rider.
Velocitor was the first to show in the Marine but was quickly joined by One Bay Hemingway, who took charge heading into the clubhouse turn and held the lead through an opening quarter in 24.11 seconds, a half-mile in 48.22 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.47.
The Ireland-bred Turf King was in fifth, racing along the rail heading into the far turn as Kaikokaipuu launched an outside rally which carried him to the front turning for home.
Stretching out for the first time after recording his first stakes score – and the first for his trainer Ted Holder here in the seven-furlong King Corrie – Kaikokapuuu briefly looked like a winner but could not quite contain Turf King through the final furlong after leading by a head at the stretch call.
Midnight Rising, shipping in from Kentucky and joining Turf King as the only other non-King’s Plate eligible in the Marine, showed some late interest in closing for third as the first Canadian starter for trainer Jordan Blair.
Turf King, owned by Wise Racing, was making his second start on a synthetic surface after winning his opener around two turns at Gulfstream on Feb. 16.
His two subsequent outings produced a first-level allowance score over one mile of grass at Keeneland and a third-place finish in Monmouth Park’s Jersey Derby over the same surface and footing.
The colt by Kingman out of the Sweet Acclaim mare Acclimation returned $4.10. The final time was 1:43.41.
Stayhonor Goodside, in contention throughout, evened out in the stretch to finish fourth with Simcoe, One Bay Hemingway, Twin City and Velocitor completing the order of finish.
Casse's Solo Album wins Selene; Wonder Wheel no factor
Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has owned the Selene in recent years, with victories in the last five runnings among his total of eight scores of the open 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies.
That streak was expected to continue in Saturday’s renewal of Woodbine’s Grade 3 test but Wonder Wheel, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies en route to divisional Eclipse Award honors and the 3-5 choice in the field of nine, spun her tires while her unheralded stablemate Solo Album romped to a 6 1/4-length score.
Solo Album had led throughout when winning her maiden in her sixth career start and local 2023 debut over 1 1/16 miles at Woodbine on May 12.
Those tactics were changed in the Selene as Sahin Civaci, riding Solo Album for the first time, took the Kentucky-bred filly off the pace after she broke from the outside in the field of nine.
“Before, in the paddock, Mr. Casse called and told me not to go to the front, there’s going to be some speed up there, lay up close though, so that’s what we did.
“I saw Wonder Wheel getting boxed in a bit, but he (jockey, Patrick Husbands) managed to get out and I was sitting there outside of him, I was waiting for him to move. When I saw he wasn’t having much horse, I did make that move just to save up ground and not get caught out wide. While she was in the momentum, I just kept her with her momentum and she finished up really strong.”
Honor D Lady, one of three invaders trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., along with Be My Sunshine and Blind Spot, rallied from last and could not seriously threaten the winner but outfinished Tito’s Calling for second money.
Tito’s Calling, 45-1, was a half-length back in third as one of four Woodbine Oaks nominees in the field along with Fortyfiveseventy (fourth), Dolce Sopresa (fifth) and Speed Trap (ninth).
Be My Sunshine had led through fractions of 23.72 and 47.14 seconds, and 1:11.20 pressed by Dolce Sopresa and Speed Trap, before weakening to finish sixth. Blind Spot also tired to finish seventh with Wonder Wheel ending next to last. Friends for Life was scratched.
The final time was 1:42.65.
The Selene is the final local stepping-stone for the Woodbine Oaks, a $500,000 race ($377,532 U.S.) for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, which will be run on July 23.
A $535,000 (U.S.) Keeneland yearling, Solo Album races for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Gary Barber and Steven Rocco. The win in the Selene seriously enhances the value of the daughter of Curlin and the Arch mare, Summer Solo.
She paid $21.10 for the win.
Casse also saddles Lucky Score to Highlander victory
Lucky Score, trained by Mark Casse, scored top prize in Saturday’s Grade 2, $151,013 (U.S.) Highlander Stakes at Woodbine.
It was a cavalry charge for the lead in the six-furlong turf sprint for 4-year-olds and up contested over a firm E.P. Taylor Course, with Cadamosto, Outlaw Kid and mutuel choice One Timer tussling for top spot. Cadamosto emerged with a short advantage through an opening quarter in 22.01 seconds as Outlaw Kid, in the middle, and One Timer, to the outside, continued to apply pressure after a half in 44.24 seconds.
Rounding the turn for home, One Timer emerged with the lead and attempted to draw away from his rivals, but graded stakes-placed Oceanic and graded stakes winner Lucky Score soon came calling, and began their own battle to the wire. The latter prevailed by a half-length in a time of 1:07.86. One Timer, who arrived on a two-race win streak, was third, and Old Chestnut finished fourth.
“He’s a horse that comes off the pace,” said Sahin Civaci, who one race earlier piloted Casse trainee Solo Album to victory in the Selene Stakes. “It takes him a while to get rolling and luckily there was a lot of speed up front today so that helped a lot. It was just about finding the right position and a clear path getting to the wire before they get there.”
It was the sixth career victory in 15 starts for the 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky-Miss Matzo, owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Pantofel Stable.
“I had a lot of horse,” noted Civaci. “I just needed to get after him a little bit and I saw that the six (Oceanic) was fighting back. He kicked on and he fought good, so we got up front.”
Bred in Ontario by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse, Lucky Score won his first race since last September when the bay gelding rallied to take the Vigil (G3) over the Woodbine Tapeta.
Souper Dormy, Outlaw Kid, Masseto (GB), Striker, and Cadomosto (IRE) rounded out the order of finish. Silent Poet was scratched.
Lucky Score paid $30.60.
Tyson delivers Dominion Day knockout for trainer Josie Carroll
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll delivered a one-two punch with winner Tyson and runner-up Treason in the Grade 3, $113,260 (U.S.) Dominion Day Stakes on Canada Day Saturday at Woodbine.
Last time out, Tyson finished third to stablemate Treason in the Eclipse Stakes (G2). On this day, the tables were turned in the 1 1/8-mile main track feature for 4-year-olds and up.
Graded stakes winner War Bomber left from the inside gate, but drifted over to the middle of the Tapeta, with Carrothers and Artie’s Storm sitting second and third, respectively, through an opening quarter in 23.73 seconds, as Tyson sat sixth of nine.
Carrothers was a head in front of War Bomber, with Duke of Love third after a half in 47.63 seconds, while Rafael Hernandez kept a patient hand aboard Tyson, who was seventh.
As the field came off the turn for home, Treason shook loose and stormed to the front, but Tyson was also rolling to the far outside, and the pair locked horns down the lane with Tyson eventually getting by a determined Treason to earn a 1 1/2-length triumph in a time of 1:48.32, just a shade off the track-record mark of 1:48.24 set by Global Access in 2019.
Gaston was third, followed by War Bomber, Artie’s Storm, Golden Glider, Duke of Love, Novo Sol and Carrothers.
Carroll, who won the 2021 edition of the Dominion Day with two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart, gave full marks to Tyson.
“Tough trip for a great big horse,” said Carroll. “He’s got a great big, long stride of a horse. He’s in tight, he’s in trouble, he’s getting shuffled around, he just keeps sitting and sitting until he can get him out of there. Everything that could go wrong with him went wrong.”
Bred and owned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures, the lightly-raced 4-year-old son of Tapit-Honouring is now 4: 3-0-1.
The Kentucky-bred colt won his first two starts, including his career bow on March 4, 2022, over 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream main track.
“When he got out (today), he just fired,” said Carroll. “He was closing strongly in his last stakes, and I really expected a big race from him today. He’s been waiting for the chance to use that big stride and he just takes off.”
Tyson returned $10.30 for the Dominion Day win.
Fev Rover makes it 3 on the day for Casse with Nassau score
Fev Rover provided trainer Mark Casse with a Canada Day graded stakes hat trick after winning the one-mile Grade 2, $132,136 (U.S.) Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, Saturday afternoon at Woodbine.
Making her fourth consecutive start on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Fev Rover watched from midpack as longshot Sister Lou Ann grabbed the early advantage. Scotish Star sat second with Sweet Enough positioned third and 4-5 choice Moira fourth through an opening panel over yielding turf in 24.34 seconds.
It was status quo among the top four after a half in 48.50 seconds, while Patrick Husbands, aboard Fev Rover, was unhurried at the back of the pack in ninth.
Poised to the outside in seventh entering the turn for home, Fev Rover (IRE) got her cue and responded with an explosive turn of foot, striking front and then holding a half-length lead at Robert Geller’s stretch call.
At the wire, the Ireland-bred 5-year-old daughter of Gutaifan was 4 1/4 lengths in front of Moira, who finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Millie Girl. Devil’s Bit was fourth.
Eminent Victor, Scotish Star, Purrfect, Sweet Enough and Sister Lou Ann rounded out the field.
The final time was 1:40.03, the result of a heavy downpour in the leadup to the race.
“I was on the best side of the track on the wide outside and those guys keep on rolling, rolling, rolling,” said Husbands. “My horse enjoyed it on the wide outside. I’m just thinking just cut corners, cut corners, then open her up.
“You get to ride good horses, they make you look good. You can do what you want to do. The race went well for me and I’m happy for Mark and the owner.”
Bred by Manister House Stud, the bay mare, who endured a rough trip in her previous race, when she finished fourth but was elevated to third in the E.P. Taylor (G1) in October, is now 15: 4-4-2.
Owned by Tracy Farmer, Fev Rover paid $9.10 for the win.