Woodbine

Friday is shaping up to be quite a stakes-laden slate as the rescheduled King's Plate card from last weekend at Woodbine joins the GI Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga and a pair of pricey Grade IIs from Charles Town. TDN's full coverage of the races that were forced to move because of a deluge in Toronto can be found in Patrycja Szpyra's preview, plus a piece on the King's Plate by Bill Finley. As for the Spa feature, it boasts a set of intriguing match-ups between four of the runners...

Following storms and torrential rain in the Toronto area Saturday afternoon, Woodbine decided to cancel the remainder of Saturday's 13-race King's Plate card. The track conducted the first five races on the undercard before forcing to cancel because of inclement weather. According to a statement by Woodbine on X this afternoon, "In the interest of safety for our horses and horse people, Woodbine Entertainment has cancelled the remainder of Saturday's live racing card due to unsafe racing conditions caused by heavy rains in the Greater Toronto Area." Saturday's card has...

The absence of the 'Grizzly Bear' has not put a damper on Saturday's GI Alabama Stakes, neither for the connections in it nor likely for the betting public, but despite Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) being the class of the field, it's not as cut and dry of an affair. Currently sitting cosy at 7-5 on the morning line, Candied is deservedly the one to beat as victory in the GI Darley Alcibiades Stakes, a third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and a gutsy second to 'TDN Rising Star'...

Mark Casse has only won the Queen's Plate/King's Plate three times, which is a little surprising when you consider how he dominates racing at Woodbine. But when 13 Canadian-breds line up for Saturday's first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown Casse will hold a clear upper hand. Among his three horses are 7-5 morning line favorite My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) and 2-1 second choice Essex Serpent (Honor Code). He will also send out long shot Midnight Mascot (Army Mule), who is 10-1 in the line. He believes this year's...

Josie Carroll recorded her 1,000th career win as a trainer in Sunday's fourth race at Woodbine when the 4-year-old Tapit gelding Spinzar won for LNJ Foxwoods. Carroll, who became the first woman to trainer a King's Plate winner in 2006, also trained this year's Woodbine Oaks winner. Horses racing out of the Josie Carroll barn include names such as two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart (Dramedy), Careless Heart (Stormin Fever), champion 2-year-old colt Avie's Flatter (Flatter), Ami's Holiday (Harlan's Holiday) and champion 3-year-old colt Ami's Gizmo (Giant Gizmo)....

The Hill 'n' Dale consignment at Keeneland November this year will feature 2023 Canadian Champion Older Male Tyson (Tapit--Honouring, by Smart Strike) the farm announced Monday. A winner at first asking at Gulfstream Park for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, the homebred would go on to win a pair of graded races at Woodbine in the GIII Dominion Day Stakes and the GII Seagram Cup Stakes. He also ran third in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga en route to being named Champion Older Male in Canada....

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of former multiple graded stakes hero Public Sector in the Great White North.   Kingman's Public Sector Wins In Canada Michael and Jules Iavarone and co-owner Saffie Joseph, Jr.'s Public Sector (GB) (Kingman {GB}) visited the winner's circle for the first time since taking Belmont's GII Hill Prince Stakes in the autumn of 2021 when capturing a Woodbine contest in July (video). The 6-year-old...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Add Virgin Colada (More than Ready) to the Resolute Racing's burgeoning list of firsts. So, so many firsts in its first season of racing. With her huge finish in the stretch in the seventh race Sunday at Saratoga Race Course, Virgin Colada got to the wire first, a half-length in front of Running Away (Gun Runner) in the 1 1/16-miles maiden special weight contest for 2-year-old fillies and was promptly tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star.' She won her, yes, first start in 1:44.32 and paid $11.20...

Despite rearing at the jump, it was My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) who got up in good order to take the Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday afternoon. This effort was the third stakes win in a row for the grey, who has proven nearly unbeatable at his hometrack--having not won just twice in seven jumps at Woodbine, on debut in May 2023, when he ran second and last September in the GI Summer Stakes on the grass when he again played bridesmaid. He ran a respectable third in...

Mensa (Complexity), who fetched a then-record $740,000 on the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform from John Stewart's Resolute Racing 13 days after an impressive debut victory in the colors of D J Stable over the Gulfstream Tapeta Apr. 12, atoned for a down-the-field effort when well-backed in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes last time with a dominating score in Friday's Victoria Stakes at Woodbine. Off as the second betting choice behind stable companion Into Diamonds (Into Mischief)--himself a first-out winner sprinting on the turf at Keeneland Apr. 25--Mensa was soon in front and...

Cut the Dust (Not This Time) ran a hole in the wind on this unveiling and cruised home to the easiest of victories, earning a 'TDN Rising Star' nod in the process. Breaking well with the field and out to take command quickly, the chestnut was still in hand as he distanced himself from his rivals passing the three furlong pole after :22.48 and :45.29 splits. He had built up a six length lead turning for home and from there on, the question was how much he'd like to win...

Woodbine has canceled Sunday's race card due to the extreme heat forecasted for the Toronto area. The release noted that the decision was made in consultation with the HBPA and the commissioned veterinarian with the safety of the horses and all racing participants a top priority. The Victoria Stakes has been rescheduled to Friday, July 19. Live racing at Woodbine is scheduled to return on Thursday, July 18 with first post at 4:50 p.m.