Boule d'Or arrives at Old Friends

I am very happy to report that Boule d'Or, a horse I've written about on several occasions is now happily residing in Kentucky and enjoying his retirement at Old Friends.

Boule d'Or joins fellow turf fiends Awad and Kiri's Clown at Old Friends


Michael Blowen, proprietor of Old Friends, advised over the phone that, "Boule is cool as a cucumber and has a personality to match. He's so smart, really smart." Boule d'Or is currently being stalled at a farm just down the road from the Old Friends facility where he is getting the once over from top local vet, Dr. Byers.

Carrots and mints aplenty await Boule d'Or at Old Friends


Boule was donated to Old Friends by owner Robert Gray, who not only paid to transport Boule from California to Kentucky, but also made a sizable donation to help Boule get set up in his new life. Gail Hirt, of CANTER Michigan, initiated the process of retiring Boule after reading about the Graded Stakes winners efforts here at Triple Dead Heat. Hirt contacted Boule's most recent trainer, Justin Treasure, and in little more than a weekend all the arrangements were made. "We're very grateful to the Rob Gray, the Treasure family, Gail Hirt and you for giving his long, long journey a happy ending," declared Blowen.

Boule races about the paddock


Last weekend Hirt travelled to Kentucky to welcome Boule and snapped the amazing photos you see above. As well, Hirt sent along the below Youtube video.

Boule d'Or chilling out in the bluegrass


I am amazed and impressed by the efforts of everyone involved and look forward to meeting Boule d'Or on my next trip to Kentucky. I just hope Boule knows that it was Michael's idea to have him gelded!

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With lucrative weekend purses approaching, the hot streak continues for jockey Todd Kabel at Woodbine who won with ten of twenty-one mounts last week. Since Wednesday night, Kabel has won with two of ten mounts and finished in the money with four others. (Tallied through the first three races on Friday.)

Looking ahead to the weekend, on Saturday Woodbine will feature the $100K Belle Mahone Stakes for Fillies and Mares, Three Year-Olds and upward routing 1 1/6M on the near dirt.

Kabel has a live mount in Ginger Brew who won the Woodbine Oaks in 2008 and went on to finish a game second in the Queen's Plate. Smart Surprise, the morning line favourite, will have Patrick Husbands aboard for trainer Josie Carroll as the five year-old Kentucky-bred chases another Stakes victory off a dominant performance in the Ontario Matron. Trainer Roger Attfield sends out Mekong Melody for a first Stakes appearance with Chantal Sutherland in the irons. The above trio should fit nicely into the exotics wagering with Ginger Brew most likely.

P# Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Arden Belle (ON) M Moore 119 R Gerl 10/1
2 Tell It as It Is (KY) E Wilson 121 J J Smith 4/1
3 Smart Surprise (KY) P Husbands 121 J Carroll 8/5
4 Mekong Melody (IRE) C Sutherland 117 R L Attfield 9/2
5 Ginger Brew (ON) T Kabel 121 B A Lynch 5/2
6 Simply Splendid (KY) T Pizarro 117 G Cox 10/1

Also on tap Saturday is the $150K Ontario Debutante Stakes for Two-Year-Old Fillies going Six Furlongs on the poly.

P# Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Biofuel (KY)J McAleney 116 R Baker 12/1
2 Redverse (KY) D Clark 116 J Carroll 12/1
3 Rhythm of the Sea (FL)E R Da Silva 114 R Baker 12/1
4 Vertical Vision (OK)L Contreras 116 S M Asmussen 2/1
5 Franny Freud (NY)P Husbands 116 J P Terranova, II 4/1
6 Maritime Passion (ON)C Sutherland 119 M P De Paulo 3/1
7 Negligee (KY)C Fraser 114 M E Casse 8/1
8 Credit Crunch (KY)E Ramsammy 116 B V Persad 8/1

The Saturday card includes three turf races with double-digit fields which will provide handicappers with an attractive shot at making some pocket money.

On Sunday, the feature is the $125K Victoriana Stakes for Ontario-Sired fillies and mares, three-year-olds and upward, travelling a mile and a sixteenth on the turf.

Jono Jones, one of the best turf jockeys going, has the mount on Mike De Paulo's Tenjectory at a generous 12-1. The lukewarm 2-1 morning line favourite is Josie Carroll's Authenicat with Rob Landry getting the call. Notably absent from this turf stakes feature is the training trio of Roger Attfield, Ian Black and Malcolm Pierce who have had their pictures snapped repeatedly this meet in turf events. The 2008 winner of the this race, You Will Love Me, returns to defend her crown with Eurico Rosa Da Silva aboard. I will look to handicap this race on Sunday via Twitter.

P# Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Authenicat (ON)R C Landry 117 J Carroll 2/1
2 Serena's Rose (ON)S Callaghan 115 R A Jones 12/1
3 You Will Love Me (ON)E R Da Silva 115 R E Barnett 6/1
4 Executive Flight (ON)P Husbands 115 D D Banach 4/1
5 Krz Exec (ON)J Baird 115 M P De Paulo 10/1
6 Galipette (ON)J Stein 115 D R Bell 8/1
7 Mia d'Cougar (ON)C Sutherland 115 T Attard 12/1
8 Tenjectory (ON)J C Jones 115 M P De Paulo 12/1
9 San Nicola Whiskey (ON)E Wilson 115 R E Barnett 12/1

As Eurico Rosa Da Silva would say, Good Luck To Everybody!

Have a great weekend everyone.