Benburb and Thornfield to Old Friends and the Adena Stallion who is Brewing Synthetic Stars

Saturday's eighth race at Arlington Park was the $150,000 Arlington Oaks. The race was won by Peach Brew, a daughter of Milwaukee Brew. The Adena Springs stallion is providing handicappers with many reasons to highlight their copy of the Form lately, especially as it applies to polytrack. Woodbine locals will nod their heads approvingly considering the recent success of Ginger Brew and Milwaukee Appeal. Val's Foolish Pleasure blog posted on the subject of Milwaukee Brew recently and the entry is well worth a click.

However, what really caught my eye in the Arlington Oaks was the impressive showing of Sweet and Flawless, who's trip was anything but. The filly was fractious in the gate, came out sideways and simply refused to settle. Racing sixth and last to the 3/4 mark of the race, jockey Junior Alvarado was having a difficult time settling his mount. Ten lengths back, Alvarado began to make a move heading into the far turn and was charging like gangbusters turning into the stretch only for Sweet and Flawless to turn her head toward the grandstand and swing wide into the lane.

Alvarado persevered and his filly responded with a determined late run closing to earn the place money, beaten just half a length. It was an impressive result considering the troubled trip. Whenever a horse can make repeated moves, it's worth noting.

If you keep a virtual stable, Sweet and Flawless should be on your watch list.

***

Woodbine's Wednesday night card features eight entertaining races including two turf events, one of which is the Passing Mood Stakes.

The Passing Mood marks the return of the brilliant Cawaja Beach who will take on old foes, and fellow Stakes winners, Sans Sousi and Koonunga Hill. Hot trainer Malcolm Pierce has entered South Ocean Stakes winner Double Malt bringing further quality to this talented seven horse field.

P# PP Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 Cawaja Beach (ON) D J David 126 S H Fairlie 2/1
2 2 Executive Deed (ON) T Kabel 115 S C Attard 12/1
3 3 Double Malt (ON) E R Da Silva 122 M Pierce 4/1
4 4 Lucky n' Bold (ON) S R Bahen 115 J P Le Blanc, Jr. 12/1
5 5 Dancing Charm (ON) P Husbands 115 D Pleterski 10/1
6 6 Sans Sousi (ON) C Sutherland 122 M J Doyle 3/1
7 7 Koonunga Hill (ON) J C Jones 119 S Owens 6/1

The Ontario-Bred fillies will travel seven furlongs on the Turf for a purse of $125,000. A full handicapping review of this event will be posted later this evening.

Teresa, of Brooklyn Backstretch blog, who posted recently on the subject of horses and hockey players will be happy to know that Kovalchuk is entered in race four. At 4-1 on the morning line, the Mike De Paulo horse has a good chance at scoring in this rare 1 1/4M event. The feline friendly Brooklyn Backstretch may find herself at odds in wagering on this event as One Thievin Cat will try to steal this one at odds of 10-1.

***

I would like to thank everyone who took time to comment on my recent posting about the retirement of Boule d'Or. Initially posted here at Triple Dead Heat, the blog was then published again on the Blood-Horse website. Click the link above to read the full post.

Boule d'Or is on his way to Old Friends Equine in Kentucky and hopefully not lost in the story was the fact that Canadian stars Benburb and Thornfield are also making their way to the Old Friends facility.

Benburb was Canada's horse of the year in 1992 after winning the Prince of Wales Stakes, followed by a memorable victory over A.P Indy in the Molson Million.

Benburb defeats A.P. Indy and Alydeed in the 1992 Molson Million


Thornfield was Canada's horse of the year in 1999, a season in which the brilliant turfer took the Canadian International as the longest shot in the field.

Thornfield defeats Courteous in the 1999 G1 Canadian International


Congratulations to these former Knob Hill Stable stars who provided Woodbine fans with two very memorable moments. May they both enjoy a mint-filled retirement.