Woodbine Watch List, Queen's Plate Picture and a Kentucky Road Trip!

There was success for the Woodbine Watch List on Wednesday night when Montrose Avenue scored at 4-1 in horse racing betting. Readers who checked out my site on Tuesday were prompted with the following:

Montrose Avenue made the Watch List on April 12th after recovering from a horrendous start to gallop out well in a five furlong affair. Montrose Avenue raced again on April 26th finishing second to a 40-1 bomb and subsequently tried racing on the lead May 16th to finish third. On Wednesday night, trainer Nick Gonzalez has entered Montrose Avenue into a 6 1/2 furlong race and switched to jockey Chantal Sutherland. I expect the added distance should result in success.

Blind Squirrels. Nuts. Etc. Still, it was exciting to see this one re-bid in the stretch and drive home a winner.

The big winner on Wednesday was jockey Tyler Pizarro who added to his growing Stakes resume by guiding Me the Sea and GT to victory on the turf in the 6F Bold Ruckus Stakes. Pizarro won the Alywow Stakes on Sunday with Woodsmoke defeating U.S invaders Pull Dancer and Alan Garcia. On Wednesday night, Pizarro and his charge were completely ignored at 23-1 and screamed from the back of the pack to win by a neck over The Boy's Ring. Tyler Pizarro is quickly becoming a name for handicappers to circle in the racing program.

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If you're looking to find a horse, then why not check out the LongRun Thoroughbred Retirement Society website. LongRun's program is home to several ex-Woodbine racers. The LongRun program does a great job re-purposing their thoroughbreds for new careers off the track.

Check out the profile of Major Zee:
1993 Dark Bay/Brown Gelding
Dayjur – Zadracarta, byBold Ruckus
79 starts, 20 wins, $364,10

This compact little speedball, who won at distances from two to six furlongs on both dirt and turf during his lengthy career, was retired and donated to the LongRun program in the fall of 2006 by owner/trainer Mark Fournier. Bred by Steve Stavro’s Knob Hill Stables, this veteran campaigner made 79 starts over 11 seasons, winning 20 times (two of his victories came at the age of 13) and earning over $364,000. The Major is in fine shape and is fortunate enough to have a most generous sponsor in Donna Ralph, a breeder of champion show dogs who contacted LongRun after being deeply touched by the saga of Barbaro. Thanks to Donna, Major Zee is enjoying some well deserved rest and relaxation after being a brave and most generous racehorse.

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The Queen's Plate is just around the corner on Sunday June 21st and the contenders are working into shape. Recent workouts include:

Rapid Release - Worked 5F in 1:00
Mr. Foricos Two U - Worked 5F in 59.60*

The potential Plate field could include a pair of fillies should Milwaukee Appeal and Tasty Temptation decide to hook up again following a fierce battle in Sunday's Woodbine Oaks.

There could be another invasion of American riders to Woodbine as well as Stewart Elliott would likely return to steer Milwaukee Appeal and Jen's Thorough-Blog reports that Mike Smith has been named to ride Mr. Foricos Two U.

With the heartbreaking (for me) departure of Southdale due to injury, I am still undecided on a Plate horse but am leaning towards Roger Attfield's Rapid Release with musically-monikered Stardust Ziggy as a long shot.

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Triple Dead Heat takes a road trip this weekend to Kentucky! The race to the bluegrass state includes visits with Three Chimneys, a stay at Old Friends Retirement and a trip to Churchill Downs. Photos and stories from the trip should be cluttering this website as early as Monday.