King James of Woodbine OR St Patrick - Patron Saint of Stakes Races

Patrick Husbands and Jim McAleney are locked in a gruelling stretch drive to stake their claim as Woodbine's leading jockey. On Wednesday night, with the race tied at 157 apiece, Husbands took the Sir Barton Stakes aboard Dancers Bajan, but McAleney won three races to take a slight lead in the standings at 160-158.

Thursday saw Husbands win two races as McAleney was shut out to even the race at 160, going into an action packed final weekend that includes THIRTEEN races on Sunday. As well, Sunday sees the return of Chantal Sutherland to Woodbine along with Kentucky Derby champ Kent Desormeaux. Both Sutherland and Desormeaux will be competing in the final Stakes race of the season - the 1 3/4 mile Valedictory Stakes.

Here are the current standings:

Name	Starts	1st	2nd	3rd	Earnings
Patrick Husbands	791	160	137	110	$9,246,245
James McAleney	819	160	110	118	$8,388,439
Emma-Jayne Wilson	868	111	110	136	$6,561,041
Eurico Rosa Da Silva	721	103	93	84	$5,794,791
Emile Ramsammy	840	101	103	115	$5,153,294

As you can see, there is also a race happening for third place between Emma Jayne Wilson and Eurico Rosa Da Silva.

Here are the entries over the final weekend for the battle to see if the headlines will read King James of Woodbine or St Patrick - Patron Saint of Stakes Races.

FRIDAY

HUSBANDS

Race 1 - Go Boldly
Race 2 - Wainfleet (Could be an all Husbands Daily Double to start the day.)
Race 5- Christo
Race 6- Ky Bluz Girl
Race 7 - Runoff to L A
Race 8 - Side Swipe

McALENEY

Race 3 - Foolish Vow
Race 4 Jimmymac Bear (Seems like we should all be placing a hunch bet here!)
Race 5 White Balance
Race 6 - Choir Practice
Race 8 Let Her Peek
Race 9 Six Roses
Race 10 Legendary Ella

SATURDAY

HUSBANDS

Race 1 - Faye's Gray
Race3 - Feather Bed Lane
Race4 - The Queen's Stamp (major shot with this one.)
Race 5 - Highland Gypsy
Race 6 - Shafted (Display Stakes 1 1/16 for two year olds. Have to like Husbands for Casse here.)
Race 7 - Distant Kain
Race 8 - Pool Play
Race10 - Boca Breeze
RAce 11 - La Gran Germaine

McALENEY
Race 1 - Quebec City
Race 2 - Smart Touch
Race 4 - Initforreal
Race 5 - Budka
Race 6 - Red Leader (Display Stakes 1 1/16 for two year olds)
Race 7 - Tea Bay
Race 8 - Criminal Power
Race 9 - Honeymoon Suite (If Jimmy Mac could grow wings...ugh, sorry cheezy song!)
Race 10 - Read's Bay

SUNDAY

HUSBANDS
Race 1 - Archie's Gal
Race 2 - Awesome Rhythm
Race 3 - Jump To Conclusions
Race 4 - Skip Code (Looking to peak at just the right time.)
Race 5- Sunset Pleasure (AE)
Race 6 - Lucius Vorenus AND Imalwaysright (AE) (Two at a time Patrick? That would be a first!)
Race 7 - Ascot's Legend
Race 8 - Sanibel
Race 9 - Southbound Again
Race 10 - No mount in the 1 3/4 Mile Valedictory Stakes?
Race 12 - Lost In The Forest
Race 13 - You're Funny

McALENEY
Race 2 - Not For Royals
Race 3 - Aliciainwonderland
Race 4 - Long Journey
Race 6 - Thunderbear
Race 7 - Ciano Nights
Race 8 - Bearusa
Race 9 - Beach Deputy
Race 10 - Include Us (Valedictory Stakes)
Race 13 - Stolonboy

That's a serious number of rides for two Woodbine veterans and I'm sure they'll both be too tired to celebrate come the end of Sunday's card. If we're lucky, we'll see a tie game going into the thirteenth race on Sunday with a head-to-head battle down the lane between two great jockeys.

As a teaser, here's the sort of finish we're looking for...Patrick Husbands outstanding ride on Canadian champion Sealy Hill at 48-1. He finished second, but we were all out of our seats that day at Woodbine to cheer on Patrick.



Best of luck to both riders. I do hope Woodbine's brilliant track announcer, Dan Loiselle, will give us dual commentary on the race within the race over the weekend.