Woodbine Wrapup: Success For The Woodbine Watch List and another edition of Outrageous Odds

As part of an ongoing experiment, I have been tracking horses who raced their way into trouble at Woodbine but showed some gumption despite the adversity. The adventures of these unlucky horses are compiled in my Woodbine Watch List. The goal is to chronicle the mis-adventure and then follow the upcoming results to see if the altercation is a sign of delayed success.

I am happy to report that Woodbine Watch List success finally arrived on Friday courtesy of Home In Two who won impressively as the favourite in a $25K claiming route. Patrick Husbands charged from the back of the pack to win in a driving finish by 2 1/4 lengths. Home In Two paid $3.80 to win.

There was more success for the Woodbine Watch List on Sunday, of a sort, when Caledon Cat won second time out after a difficult trip returning to the $7500 claiming level at Fort Erie. Caledon Cat paid $8.90 to win.

More second time out success as Legal Move ran well to finish second to Stuck In Traffic in Saturday's New Providence Stakes. Legal Move paid $6.10 to place and the exactor with Stuck in Traffic was a generous $90.80.

Master Michael finished in a dead heat for fifth first back in a $60K MSW when he raced six horses wide into the stretch yet dug in gamely through the stretch. Perhaps Master Michael will be another second time after the infraction success story.

Hello Moneypenny stalked well but when asked for more showed not much response flattening out to finish seventh up for a claim at $50K going six furlongs. I'll keep an eye for this one's second start.

Awake By Noon is another watch list horse who first time after the poor trip stalked and then flattened out. Awake By Noon finished fifth in a $12.5K claimer going 1 1/16 at the $12.5K claiming level.

And finally, Up Up made the watch list after a difficult trip at long odds. According to my notes from his troubled outing, "At 100-1, Up Up broke in air forcing jockey Krista Carignan to sit 12th of 14 runners in a seven furlong affair. Still tenth at the top of the stretch, Carignan rallied the Jim Day horse up for sixth in a tight finish with three necks and a couple spare lengths in front of her. At 100-1, I’ll take a little show action next time out."
Up Up finished sixth this past Friday in a seven horse field at odds of 18-1. No doubt the odds will rise again in the next start for Up Up. We'll see if the horse bounces back.

This week's addition to the Woodbine Watch List is Stolen Art. Trained by Nicholas Nosowenko, Stolen Art was robbed of victory Wednesday night after a difficult start in a ten horse field at the $38K MSW level. Still racing in tenth at the quarter marker in the seven furlong affair, Pizarro sped full throttle past Full Throttle, had no trouble with Trouble Today and stepped past Water Moccasin with ease. By the top of the stretch, Stolen Art was gaining rapidly but as the horses fanned out through the turn, Pizarro was checked at the rail and by the time he regained his run Stolen Art could only chase home Reservoir to finish second. Clearly, Reservoir with Jim McAleney aboard had plenty in reserve through the stretch. We'll see if Stolen Art returns to the scene of the crime to draw up a winning result next out. Full chart of the race can be found here: Stolen Art Full Chart

Triple Dead Heat's other weekly feature Outrageous Odds details the story of one of the more lucrative payouts of the past week. Saturday's ninth race featured a full fourteen horse field of $12.5K claimers racing six furlongs on the polytrack. Chantal Sutherland was piloting lukewarm favourite Shekina West (5/2) who went south after chasing a front running Hong Kong Amy (9-1)for a mere twenty-two seconds. Second choice, Shanghai Fury (5-1), moved up to join Hong Kong Amy combining for a far-eastern front that worked efficiently to the top of the stretch until a monster charge of a half-dozen horses threatened to stomp on all the leaders had built. Swooping wide into the stretch came Looking For Action (8-1), Kesten (67-1), Still Learning (9-1) and Gina L( 20-1.) Still Learning with Corey Fraser looked desperately for room in the stretch and was checked by Dean Deverell's Kesten. Hong Kong Amy fought bravely but could not hold her lead and in the shadow of the wire Gerry Olguin, looking for racing room, moved Looking For Action to a safe position seven-wide to win in commanding fashion. Looking For Action paid $18.90 to win, and with Kesten (67-1) arriving in time for place ahead of Still Learning (9-1) the trio combined to make a two-dollar triactor worth $29,154.30. Even the exactor was a gargantuan $885.20 proving once again that the 'All" button was invented for horses with odds like 67-1. Please click here to review the race chart.

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Nick Gonzalez has come alive winning the New Providenece Stakes with Stuck In Traffic this weekend and now has ten wins in 36 starts with earnings of $422,993. Mark Casse, Reade Baker and Scott Fairlie are in a TRIPLE DEAD HEAT for second place with seven wins apiece. Malcolm Pierce is hitting the board at an impressive 50% rate with six wins, three seconds and a show in just 19 starts.

Trainer Standings


Patrick Husbands could hop on a goat, ride backwards around the track and still win. Just last Wednesday I swear I saw Husbands win a six furlong sprint without a horse. Currently, the leading jockey has 32 wins which is twice as many as nearest competitor Emile Ramsammy. Tyler Pizarro is doing very well in a limited 76 mounts hitting the board 43 times.

Jockey Standings


There were a few notable performances this past weekend. Members of Club Three Chimneys will have noted the awesome victory by Exchange Note. The gelding is yet another Exchange Rate offspring to excel on the Woodbine polytrack. Last year Woodbine fans watched two year-olds Southern Exchange and Juliet's Spirit run away with stakes wins.
This past Sunday, the Florida bred Exchange Note raced to victory in an MSW with a 99 Beyer rating. Exchange Note covered 6 furlongs in 1:08.92. Add that one to your watch list and keep an eye on Exchange Rate progeny racing at Woodbine. It's long been held that Exchange Rate offspring are turfers and there does seem to be a correlation now with the polytrack.
Still on my watch list, Southern Exchange last worked out on Friday in the mud at Aqueduct covering 5F in 1:02.12 and is entered in Friday's fourth race at Woodbine - an $80K optional claimer. Juliet's Spirit worked yesterday at Churchill Downs breezing 4F in 52 flat.

Queen's Plate contender Eye Of The Leopard, by A.P. Indy won a maiden allowance on Sunday wiring the field at a distance of 1 1/16 miles earning a 74 Beyer Figure. Meanwhile, Parabola worked 5F in 1:00.80 on Sunday and will likely be pointing towards the much-needed distance of the Plate Trial.

Thorougbred racing action returns to Woodbine on Wednesday evening. Post-time is 6:45PM.