Woodbine

Russell Baze has been named the 2023 recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award. The award, named after the late jockey who died after a three-horse accident in the 1980 Canadian Oaks, is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to Thoroughbred racing. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Baze was a prominent name on the North American racing circuit for 42 years, finishing as the all-time leader for wins by a jockey. He recorded...

1st-Woodbine, C$83,346, Msw, 7-13, 2yo, 5f (AWT), :58.15, ft, 8 3/4 lengths. PARTY ON (f, 2, Twirling Candy--No Curfew, by Curlin) took on the boys in her debut, going off as the 2-1 choice and going right out to the early lead. Set down through fractions of :22.31 and :45.59, she easily dispatched pressure from Valyrian Sky (Sky Mesa) turning for home and easily the class of the field to the line to win by 8 3/4 lengths. The second impressive 2-year-old filly for Twirling Candy on the day, Party...

In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Fev Rover in the GII Nassau S. at Woodbine. Gutaifan Mare Takes Second Canadian Grade II The G1 1000 Guineas-placed Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}) added her third group/graded win to her resume with an open-length victory in the Nassau S. for Tracy Farmer and trainer Mark Casse (video). Bred by Manister House Stud, the 5-year-old was a £20,000 Goffs UK Premier yearling turned 695,000gns...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This column is highlighted by the victory of Skims in a Belmont affair. Frankel Filly Strikes In New York Last autumn's GII Sands Point S. heroine Skims (GB) (Frankel {GB}) ran out an easy winner in New York for breeder Andrew Rosen and trainer Shug McGaughey earlier this month (video). Now with four victories to her name, the $235,000 Keeneland September buy-back is the seventh foal out of Royal Decree (Street Cry...

4th-ELP, $120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 1 1/16mT, 2:13 p.m. Racing for the same connections that bred, owned, and trained her leading young sire, RESOURCE (Gun Runner) makes her afternoon debut as a homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds under the watchful eye of trainer Steve Asmussen. Out of a multiple stakes-winning mare in Remit (Tapit), herself a full-sister to MGSW/GISP Tapiture and SW/GSP Retap, the chestnut filly is a half-sister to both MGSW Finite (Munnings) and MSW/GSP Reride (Candy Ride {Arg}). Opposing her is a pair from the outside gates led by...

5th-Woodbine, C$76,426, Msw, 6-4, 2yo, 5f (AWT), :59.02, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. TRIPLE TREA (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro--Urloveisasymphony, by Forest Wildcat)--who signaled his readiness with a bullet :35 three-furlong move (1/70) May 21 over the Woodbine synthetic, followed by a May 28 half-mile training track work in :49 1/5 (8/21)--may have given his connections a few anxious moments as he broke a step slowly and took his time against a field of fellow first-timers. The dark bay raced in sixth and in the clear through a :23.11 quarter, had just...

Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll (Connect), winner of this term's GIII Ben Ali S. Apr. 22 and GIII Pimlico Special S. May 19, is the horse to beat returning on short notice in Saturday's GIII Blame S., the featured race on "Stephen Foster Preview Day" at Churchill Downs. The $1-million GI Stephen Foster will now be held four weeks later at Ellis Park. The Ken McPeek-trained 2021 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner will face seven rivals from his rail draw, including the re-opposing Ben Ali second and third-place finishers...

A touch chilly on the board at 9-2 from 5-2 favoritism, Al and Bill Ulwelling's Pennick (f, 2, Hard Spun--By Golly Mis Molly, by Vindication) was pinched back at the break, but saw off her rivals by the time they'd reached the turn and shot clear through the final eighth of a mile to become a new 'TDN Rising Star' at Woodbine Saturday afternoon. The May-foaled bay, a $200,000 purchase out of last year's Keeneland September Sale, was bounced around just after the start, but was ridden along thereafter by...

10th-CD, $120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f, 5 1/2f, 5:26 p.m. As the last foal out of blue-hen broodmare Leslie's Lady (Tricky Creek), LADY IRENE (Kantharos) has a pedigree second to none. Her trio of illustrious half-siblings hardly need an introduction but are none other than 4x Eclipse winner Beholder (Henny Hughes), GISW & sire Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), and perennial leading general sire Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday). Retained by her breeder Clarkland Farm, Lady Irene debuted with an on-the-board closing finish under the Twin Spires last Nov. She picks up Lasix Saturday...

Woodbine Entertainment announced the addition of long-time Thoroughbred breeder Yvonne Schwabe and perennial leading Standardbred owner and breeder Brad Grant to committees for its Board of Directors. Schwabe will serve on the Thoroughbred Racing Committee, while Grant joins the Standardbred Racing Committee. Schwabe, a breeder for over 25 years and is the owner of Persley Den Farms in Acton, Ontario, notably bred 2013 Queen's Plate winner Midnight Aria. In addition to her successful breeding operation, Schwabe is a former director and current Funding Chair for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. She...

Horse racing is an honourable sport that is steeped in tradition; built by generations of hardworking and passionate individuals and families. It's an industry that brings people together from all walks of life, and is critically dependent on everyone's contribution to its stability and success. While this diversity of roles and shared passion is racing's greatest strength, it exists within a very complex and challenging business environment that results in constant pressure to plan, adapt, and aggressively fight to secure our future. At Woodbine Entertainment, we own and operate two...

I grew up in the 'Golden Age' of Canadian racing and breeding. Windfields, Sam Son and Stafford Farms are a few great breeders that come to mind. Thriving yearling sales and horses like Deputy Minister, Kennedy Road and Kamar also come to mind. Founded by the great E.P. Taylor, the consistent goal was a thriving industry with stewards of the turf to elevate Woodbine to the highest standards of thoroughbred racing. Secretariat made his final start at Woodbine and the most influential sire of my lifetime, Northern Dancer, was born...