Weekend Wrapup: Derby Contenders and Opening Day at Woodbine

Patrick Husbands stamped his authority on the Woodbine polytrack this opening weekend winning with four of his nine mounts. Husbands won the first Stakes race of the season, the La Voyageuse, aboard Mullins Beach. Emile Ramsammy and Steve Bahen are one win off the pace with three victories each.

Current Jockey Standings


Trainer Mike Doyle had his charges in mid-season form finishing in the money with five of seven starters and earnings of $64,191. Malcolm Pierce is leading the way in earnings thanks to the stakes share from Mullins Beach and a neat allowance win with True Vindication, piloted by Patrick Husbands.


If you're looking for a new angle at Woodbine, keep an eye on the Husbands and Pierce combination.

Disfunction won the Jacques Cartier Stakes on Sunday over a distance of 5 1/2 furlongs. Ramsammy outdueled Husbands and Rouse The Cat to win by a short head with a hard charging Legal Move closing from the back of the pack under urging from Emma-Jayne Wilson. Legal Move goes to the top of the Woodbine watch list.

Also of note on opening day was the return of former leading rider Todd Kabel. The six-time Sovereign Award winning jockey won his first race of the year aboard the 12-1 bomb, Grenade.

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The Kentucky Derby picture is coming into focus but picking a clear favourite will not be easy when stars of the dirt and polytrack converge on the First Saturday in May. The weekend helped point out a couple contenders for morning line favourite and the field was reduced by one when The Pamplemousse had his Derby run ended by a front leg injury. The Pamplemousse will return to action this year, but not in time for the Derby.

The Wood Memorial showcased the ability of I Want Revenge to overcome a poor start and traffic trouble as the colt jumped the start spotting the field a good five lengths off the break. Trainer Jeff Mullins said, "You got to be more impressed with him today; he overcame every obstacle you can imagine in a race and still prevailed. It's pretty special." I Want Revenge will look to the Derby to avenge his loss against Pioneerof The Nile earlier this year in the Robert Lewis on the Santa Anita synthetic.

Wood Memorial - I Want Revenge


Pioneerof The Nile won his fourth straight race on Saturday taking the Santa Anita Derby by an easy length and a half. The great west coast hope was helped when The Pamplemousse scratched out of the race and jockey Garret Gomez looked very much in control of an easy field to win in a stalking trip. Gomez may have to make a choice between Pioneerof The Nile and Dunkirk should the latter find the earnings to make the Derby field.

Santa Anita Derby - Pioneerof The Nile


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Triple Dead Heat's favourite eight year-old horse, Boule d'Or ran in the Wildcat Handicap on Sunday at Turf Paradise. Previous posts regarding Boule d'Or's races have helped earn $80 for the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society. Unfortunately, prior commitments kept me from wagering on the race which Boule d'Or tried to steal opening up a twelve length lead at the three quarter pole before fading to finish fifth in the 1 3/8 turf stakes won by Allegre . I will keeping my eye on this former G2 winner over the course of the season and continue wagering for LongRun on his behalf.

The LongRun takes great care of ex-Woodbine racers and the following video tells the story of Ascot Bill who finished second in the 2006 Queen's Plate trial for trainer Steve Attard. Ascot Bill was adopted by Laura Bushert and is now known affectionately as Liam and well on his way to a new life as a show horse.

LongRun - Ascot Bill