Photo Essay: Elliott, Garcia, Talamo and Coa invade Toronto for the 2009 Woodbine Oaks

Four U.S based jockeys arrived at Woodbine on Sunday to compete in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks. Stewart Elliott would combine with trainer Scott Fairlie for two wins on the afternoon, most importantly piloting the sensational Milwaukee Appeal to a commanding 3 3/4 length victory in the Oaks. It is the second year in a row that a horse sired by Milwaukee Brew would win the Oaks which was won in 2008 by Frank Stronach's Ginger Brew. Other U.S based jockeys competing on Sunday included Alan Garcia, Joe Talamo and Eibar Coa.

The Sunday under card was strong including a dominating 8 1/2 length victory for Awesome Rhythm in the Victoria Park Stakes and a nail-biting photo finish in the Alywow Stakes between winner Woodsmoke and U.S invader Pull Dancer. The latter event featured a phenomenal ride by Woodbine jockey Tyler Pizarro who lulled the field to sleep with measured early fractions leaving just enough in the tank to nose out Alan Garcia and Pull Dancer. Pizarro has stepped it up this campaign already having won 24 races for purses amounting to over $1,000,000.

Tyler Pizarro (Red/Black silks) and Woodsmoke Hit the wire in front of Alan Garcia and Pull Dancer


Pizarro and trainer Mike Keogh celebrate winning the Alywow Stakes


While it threatened to rain for most of the afternoon, the weather held up for the Woodbine Oaks in front of a packed Woodbine grandstand. Woodbine punters made Bob Baffert's Wynning Ride the 5/2 choice of a thirteen horse field in a difficult ask taking on a strong field and trying Woodbine's polytrack for the first time.

Contenders Milwaukee Appeal and Tasty Temptation both had experience at Woodbine going into this event which is something horseplayers look for as an advantage in competitive fields. Tasty Temptation also had the benefit of Woodbine's leading rider Patrick Husbands and a strong second place finish to Hooh Why in the La Lorgnette as preparation for the Oaks. Milwaukee Appeal, a Woodbine local with four wins in eight lifetime starts at Woodbine, had the excellent addition of a Derby winning jockey in Stewart Elliott.

Eibar Coa and Alan Garcia flew in to try horses making their first attempt on a surface other than turf in Miss Blakely and Acadamicienne respectively. Coa's mount arrived at Woodbine from back-to-back wins at Gulfstream Park, most recently having won a $50K Stakes race. Acadamicienne raced four times in France before being shipped to the attention of top New York trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. There were more questions than answers going into the 1 1/8M event as many of the entrants were also taking their first shot at a two-turn race.

As the gate opened, Emma-Jayne Wilson gunned Koonunga Hill to the front and led a slow pace through the half as Elliott and Milwaukee Appeal stalked comfortably. Alan Garcia and Acadamicienne had a rough trip breaking outward and then trailing the entire field by some ten lengths at the half. Joe Talamo and Wynning Ride broke first and attempted the Santa Anita swoop racing off the pace and driving five-wide into the stretch. Miss Blakely broke outward for Eibar Coa but the veteran jockey kept the filly composed chasing the leaders from sixth position into the far turn.

As the field made the final turn, Elliott pushed Milwaukee Appeal into the lead and began to fight off the advances of Tasty Temptation deep into the stretch before the grey filly gave way. Miss Blakely nosed out Wynning Ride at the wire to finish third, while Garcia and Academicienne dead-heated with Politelyprecocious for fifth.

Milwaukee Appeal paid $11.20 to win. The final time was 1:49.84.

As always, I snapped a slew of photos before and after the race managing to capture pictures of all four of the U.S. based jockeys and several shots of the locals as well.

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2009 Woodbine Oaks Photos

Wynning Ride shipped in from Hollywood Park for trainer Bob Baffert


Double Malt strolls a crowded Woodbine walking ring


Milwaukee Appeal stands tall with a stunning pre-race appearance.


Trainer Scott Fairlie gives Stewart Elliott a leg up


Joe Talamo made his first appearance at Woodbine


Emma-Jayne Wilson piloted pace-setter Koonunga Hill


Alan Garcia smiles on his way by aboard Academicienne


Woodbine's leading rider Patrick Husbands and Tasty Temptation


Eibar Coa leads Miss Blakely to the track


Politely Precocious and Constant Montpelier share a laugh


Gore Bay and Chantal Sutherland make a pretty pair


Milwaukee Appeal Wins The Woodbine Oaks!


The happy connections parade the filly across the Woodbine turf


My last photo of the day caught jockey Stewart Elliott signing autographs for the kids while being interviewed by Jennifer Morrison of Thorough-Blog


Congratulations to C.E.C Farms for a spectacular win in the Woodbine Oaks.