Woodbine

2nd-Woodbine, C$92,730, Msw, 5-14, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f (AWT), :52.41, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. ADORA (f, 2, Into Mischief--Southern Ring {MGSW-Can, SP-USA, $343,998}, by Speightstown) was heavily favored in this debut and ran to the money with a decisive graduation. Dueling on the front end early, the $450,000 FTSAUG buy sauntered clear with ease in the lane to win by 4 3/4 lengths in :52.41. Delilah's Revenge (Good Magic) closed greenly late to get the better of a photo for second at 44-1 for her freshman sire (by Curlin). The...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 2nd-WO, $126K, MSW, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, 1:43 p.m. Trainer Mark Casse debuts 2-year-old ADORA at Woodbine on Saturday for owner Tracy Farmer. The daughter of leading sire Into Mischief was purchased for $450,000 from prolific Canadian breeder Sam-Son Farm at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale. Dam and Sam-Son home-bred Southern Ring, out of a half-sister to Canadian Ch. 3-year-old filly Catch the Ring (Seeking the Gold), took both the GIII Ontario Fashion S. and the GIII Whimsical S. and was herself sold for $875,000...

Megan Allan has assumed the role of General Manager of The Jockey Club of Canada, effective May 1, 2022. The post was previously held by Candice Dixon. A Thoroughbred industry veteran, Allan's past experience includes yearling preparation and sales with Farm on a Hill, Michael C. Byrne and Windfields Farm; breaking and training with J&M Training Centre; breeding and foaling with Norse Ridge Farms and Castle Peak Farm, as well as her own farm, Megan Kraus Thoroughbreds. Allan has spent the past several years as a project coordinator with Gerrits...

Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford's Botta Swing (Not This Time--Lady of the Glen, by Purim), taking on the boys while looking to carry her sire's hot streak into the juvenile ranks, came out running Sunday, earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors while lowering Woodbine's synthetic track record for 4 1/2 furlongs in the process. Away in midpack and then scrubbed on to take over with swift strides entering the bend, the chestnut was two clear and cruising midway on the turn as well-backed Ninetyfour Expos (Outwork) was asked to narrow...

Beautiful Empire (Classic Empire)'s furious kick carried the day for conditioner Mark Casse, rallying from last to lead home a 1-2-3 finish for the Mark Casse barn in a brisk rendition of the Star Shoot S. at Woodbine. The filly was far back in her first two starts over conventional dirt at Churchill Downs before breaking her maiden Dec. 10 over the synthetic at Turfway Park to conclude her juvenile season. The chestnut began her year with a close runner-up effort Jan. 8 at the venue on first-time Lasix and...

Woodbine Entertainment and Century Mile have partnered up to give the winner of the GIII Canadian Derby free entry to the GIII Ontario Derby. The Canadian Derby will be run Aug. 20 at Century Mile in Edmonton, while the Ontario Derby is scheduled for Oct. 23 at Woodbine. Any runner that wins both events will earn connections a $50,000 bonus. "This exciting initiative provides a great opportunity to connect our sport across the country and further develop the Canadian Thoroughbred industry," said Tim Lawson, Woodbine's director of Thoroughbred racing. Woodbine's...

The Jockey Club of Canada has announced the finalists for the 2021 Sovereign Awards, which honor Canada's champions and recognizes their outstanding achievements in Canadian Thoroughbred Racing and Breeding. The winner of each category, along with Canada's Horse of the Year for 2021, will be announced during the 47th Annual Sovereign Award Ceremony that will be held on the evening of Thursday, Apr. 14, 2022 at Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario. Tickets can also be purchased online here. The 2021 Media Awards finalists, the winner of the Award for Outstanding...

Prairie Meadows Racetrack has tabbed Stuart Slagle as racing secretary for the upcoming 2022 meet, which will comprise 84 live race days beginning May 13. Slagle had previously served as a racing official at the Iowa track in 2006, but was most recently the racing secretary and Director of Thoroughbred Race Planning and Analysis at Woodbine in Canada. "What Stuart has accomplished and excelled at in his prior endeavors within the racing industry really stood out and convinced me that he'll be a fine asset to our team in the...

by Nigel Reid The memory of what COVID-19 restrictions did to Canada's racing industry during the past 18 months, allied to the looming spectre of the troubling new variant, has done little to dispel the general uncertainty surrounding the sport north of the 49th parallel. However, if the results of what was a truncated season are to be believed, there is cause for optimism over the manner in which the sport, especially at the country's flagship Woodbine facility in Toronto, bounced back in 2021. Indeed, rumours of Canadian racing's demise...

Woodbine's 2021 Thoroughbred season produced an all-sources handle of $505,348,339, the third-highest season total in Woodbine Thoroughbred history. For the second consecutive season, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shortened season as the 2021 Woodbine Thoroughbred meet did not begin until June 12. Originally scheduled for 133 race dates, the 2021 season included 99 race days, three more than last year, and 946 races contested. Despite the delayed start, the 2021 season topped $500 million in all-sources handle, propelled mightily by Woodbine's highest single-season foreign wagering handle ever of $420,666,755. The...

With a record closing day handle of $8,530,593, Woodbine's 2021 Thoroughbred meet concluded Sunday with meet titles for trainer Mark Casse, jockey Kazushi Kimura, and owner Gary Barber. Casse secured the leading training title with 110 wins from his 539 starts and earnings of $8,189,186. Martin Drexler trailed in second by wins with 56. It was Casse's 13th time atop the Woodbine leaderboard and his 27 stakes victories at the Toronto oval in 2021 were 19 more than his closest rival. Casse, who is a member of the Hall of...

God of Love closed stoutly to give freshman sire Cupid (Tapit) his first graded victory in the GIII Grey S. at Woodbine Sunday. The chestnut colt broke from the outside and was caught five wide into the first turn while racing towards the back of the field. He had one horse beaten down the backstretch behind an opening quarter in :24.42 and a half in :49.58, but he began inching closer approaching the far turn. Caught wide once again turning for home, God of Love stormed into contention at the...