Another Unfortunate Edition of The Horse That Should Have Won...

After all the hoopla of Kentucky Derby weekend and Mine That Bird's long shot launch along the rail, it was strange to go back over the prices from the past week at Woodbine and discover that no one really shook the foundations of the tote board. That said, we still had some interesting races to choose for our weekly features Outrageous Odds (chronicling the best payout of the week) and the Woodbine Watch List (detailing the horse that would've, should've, could've won and then didn't.)

The best action for your two dollar bet would come in Friday's sixth race won by Chantal Sutherland aboard William Sorokolit's Distant Kain. The race featured nine three year-old fillies contesting a distance of 5 1/2F. Patrick Husbands was looking unbeatable on a fast filly by the name of Kid Sparkle (2-1), while joint second choice picks, Third Time Lucky (3-1) and Eva's World (3-1) were also well bet . As you have likely guessed, things did not go according to plan.

The gate opened and eight horses rushed out, which is not so good in a nine horse race, especially if you had wagered on Emile Ramsammy and Eva's World. Still, the chalk bettors were bug-eyed and smiling as Husbands stole to the lead with Kid Sparkle easily outshining Roderick Dacosta and Chemistry Flash (14-1) to the 3/8 pole. Third Time Lucky sat patiently in third position waiting to make a move, but the real action was happening behind that front three where Eurico Rosa Da Silva was ready to go crazy with the Danny Vella trained D'Wild Lady (7-1.) At the top of the stretch Da Silva made his move four wide circling the leaders to take on soon-to-be lacklustre Kid Sparkle. From the very back of the pack, Chantal Sutherland was urging the aptly named Distant Kain (13-1) to make her run and with a furious charge Sutherland nipped past a dull Kid Sparkle and edged D'Wild Lady at the wire. What made the payout pay was Dean Deverell taking the longest shot on the board, Nice Lady (50-1), and coaxing the pleasant filly from eighth to third.

Had you planned your filly financing fully, a two-dollar triple trouble wager on a lady (Sutherland) over two other ladies (D'wild Lady and Nice Lady) would have made you $2,948.90 richer. (I didn't have it, so I'll add it to my collection of Outrageous Odds.)

Our other weekly feature, the Woodbine Watch List, looks back fondly on races won by the wrong horse. You know, the third place finisher who started his run too late; the 50-1 bomb who ran into traffic; the horse that zigged when he should have zagged. Just your typical racetrack tough beat.

This week's watch occurs in Wednesday night's sixth race. Our protagonist is Hurry Murray, a humble $10K claimer taking on eight other boys in a 5 1/2F sprint. Hurry Murray was made the 3-1 favourite and stood a good chance with crafty Justin Stein in the irons. Little did the five year-old gelding know that the race would be over before it started. While Stein and his charge were loaded into gate, Hard Ice (11-1) and Sunday Prince (4-1) sat hungrily in the stalls outside the favourite and when the gate opened the two horses made a sandwich of poor Hurry Murray. Jostled to the back of the pack, our hero was ninth of nine horses at the quarter pole. Never fear, Stein got to work on his trusty steed picking off claimers one-by-one. Hurry Murray, smoothly stroked past Theboycanswim (5-1), made a fool of Danzigs Trick (33-1) and took on Taken (8-1) by the top of the stretch. Now in full out run, Stein found his second obstacle of the race, a five-wide barrier of horsetail, but with a sharp tug Stein sent Hurry Murray on a sharp left-turn to the rail and began a full out drive. Tellingly, from the middle of that five-wide barrier, emerged Emile Ramsammy and Bearoak (16-1) with a blazing move. Within yards of the wire, track announcer Dan Loiselle called, "Hurry Murray's white face is flying at the fence..." Can he do it? Hurry Murray hurry!! But as this story always goes, Bearoak's unimpeded drive to the wire was just too much to overcome and Hurry Murray lost by a long white nose. Better luck next time friend. We'll add you to the Woodbine Watch List.

Upcoming entries from past guests on the Woodbine Watch List include:

Home in Two - Pat Husbands - May 8th, Race 2.

Up Up - K. Carignan - May 8th, Race 1.

Awake By Noon - C. Beckon - May 8th, Race 5

Hello Moneypenny - EJ Wilson - May 8th, Race 7

Recent results from the Woodbine Watch list include:

Bear's Lightning - 2nd - May 1st, Race 7 (And he had to avoid traffic to do it!)

Yesterday's weekend wrapup arrived incomplete without the usual update on Jockey and Trainer standings so without further ado. Here you go!

Patrick Husbands is dominating the win column with 22 victories and earnings of over a million dollars. Emile Ramsammy is chiseling away with 15 wins and Eurico Rosa da Silva is third with 12 notches on his belt. Chantal Sutherland is hitting the board often, throwing up a triple double with ten wins, eleven times placed and sixteen show trips to her name.



Nick Gonzalez leads the trainers through the week once again with eight victories but Reade Baker and Scott Fairlie are keeping close with seven cashed win bets each. Malcolm Pierce has earned a nifty $403,687 thanks to El Brujo and a lot of hard work.