The sun shined, the birds sang and the people came out to Woodbine to wager on the ponies on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. The marquee race honoured Queen's Plate winning filly La Lorgnette, the massive 17 hands tall filly guided to the guineas by David Clark in 1985, and the race lived up to the classy mare's standard as Biofuel swooped home with authority.
Biofuel victorious in the La Lorgnette
The speedy filly cools out after an energetic win in the La Lorgnette
In the eighth race on the card, David Clark would guide Artic Fern to an allowance win over Mobilizer providing the veteran jock with a solid Queen's Plate contender some 25 years removed from that last classic win.
Trainer Mike Keogh enjoyed Artic Fern's effort.
"I was very pleased with it, he did all the donkey work," smiled Keogh. "He's still a little green but he galloped out very well."
At the end of the rainbow, you'll find the hind end of Artic Fern
It was a beautiful afternoon to be at the track and I snapped dozens of photos over the course of the afternoon. What follows is a photo essay recap of the card including race replays and some photographic evidence of Artic Fern's stellar gallop out.
(As always, please double left click the photo to enlarge the photo and then use your "Back" button to return to the blog post. Enjoy!)
It was a great day to take the family to Woodbine Racetrack
Chantal Sutherland wants to see you at the track!
Each afternoon, the worst handicappers are locked in this cage and only allowed to exit once they've made a winning wager*
* These folks are actually watching the races from the ground floor level of the casino.
Do you ever watch a close finish at Woodbine and think you've lost only to discover after further review that you've won? As you'll see from the photo below, the gap between the eye-catching finishing post and the actual mirror of the finish line is quite substantial.
Emile Ramsammy beaming about his chances with Good General in the fourth race
True to form, Good General soldiered home in front
The fifth race would be run on the turf which suits Irish monikered De Danann just fine
Dubai Calling looked lovely in the paddock but didn't answer on the turf
Romantic Song led the field to the top of the stretch but the love story was fleeting and she ended up eighth.
Thislilsoulofmine was blocked in the stretch but showed good spirit to finish fifth. Add to the watch list!
Torreadora looking very confident leaving the paddock
Torreadora surges to the lead as the field chases in vain
At the wire it's Torreadora with ease
And doesn't she love having her photo taken!
Torreadora ole's the field
Biofuel gassing up in the paddock
Reade Baker's star pupil was in fine form
Redverse has her eye on the camera
Tee Game hopes to be in the forefront of Stakes races this meet
The call went out for "Rider's Up" and Empire Spring promptly put Pat Husbands down - here's the feisty filly walking it off
Empire Spring did not want to leave the paddock
Rob Landry in the target practice silks of NHL goalkeeper Curtis Joseph
Landry and Moment of Majesty in post parade
Ernfold absolutely radiant in the multi-coloured silks of Jim and Susan Hill
Witch's Coven and Emma-Jayne Wilson brewing up a plan in the post parade
The field bunched together heading into the first turn
Biofuel blasts to the lead in the stretch
Eurico Rosa da Silva - always smiling!
Eurico wishes "Good Luck To Everybody" but especially Jeff Bratt and Brereton Jones
Biofuel gets a well-deserved bath following her win
Biofuel wins the La Lorgnette Stakes
The seventh race saw the racing move back to the weeds where the well-bred horses of Sam-Son Farms are often found in the lead.
Jelly Roll attempts to buck Corey Fraser from the saddle
Paradise Bound casts a fantastic shadow
Magic Broomstick flies to the lead...
and wins going away!
Sometimes the happiest person following a win is the groom
Emma-Jayne Wilson shows a little love to Magic Broomstick
Need a starting quarterback? Emma-Jayne Wilson is your gal!
Magic Broomstick sweeps to victory
Following that lovely turf tilt was a route featuring a variety of Queen's Plate contenders including Artic Fern, Bear Star, Mobilizer and Roman Games.
Bear Star calm and quiet in the paddock
Can we kick it? Yes we can! Mobilizer working the kinks out
Adena Springs bred colt Mobilizer walks the paddock
The big fella was putting on a show
Every horse owner likes a photogenic horse...
Mobilizer is no exception
Roman Games nods to the paddock
Out of the gate...
And away they go to a perfect beginning
The field heads towards the finish line for the first time in this two-turn allowance
Artic Fern leads the field through the stretch as Mobilizer chases..
but at the wire it's Artic Fern by a comfortable margin over Mobilizer
Artic Fern gallops out well in front of the field following the win
Happy connections pose with the gelded son of Langfuhr
Artic Fern enjoys a post-race bath
A race so nice, they'll watch it twice - Owner/Breeder Gus Schickendanz and trainer Mike Keogh enjoy the replay
Artic Fern defeats Mobilizer in a 1/16M Allowance event
* * *
All in all a lovely day for racing at Woodbine. The Queen's Plate trail is heating up and this week I will profile two more contenders. Enjoy your holiday weekend good readers!
Monday, May 24, 2010
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2 comments:
Thank you Keith! I am a big Biofuel fan!!!
Keith, thanks for the terrific pictures, especially Mobilizer, handsome devil that he is. And isn't Thislilsoul a cutie? I hope to see her again with a year's growth on her; I bet she'll be quite nice. Biofuel looked lovely in those photos, too. Wonderful, wonderful! Thank you so much for posting all those!
Brian, I read your blog entry about Biofuel after it was featured on Paulick Report. I'm glad I'm not the only one with such high hopes for her!
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