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Rahy's Attorney wins the 2011 Pan American at Gulfstream Park
The Pan American had no shortage of Canadian content as second place finisher, Musketier (GER), is trained by Woodbine-based Roger Attfield and the third-place finisher, Prince Will I Am, is conditioned by Canadian-born Michelle Niehi. Pool Play, another Woodbine-based animal for trainer Mark Casse, finished fifth.
The seven-year-old Rahy's Attorney came into the race off a strong second-place showing in the Mac Diarmida and was comfortable stalking the early pace of Beckham Bend. Emma-Jayne Wilson, riding Rahy's Attorney for the first time, was composed in her familiar aerodynamic crouch as she guided the Crown Attorney gelding through relatively quick fractions of :24.41, :48.12, 1:12.12, and 1:37.17 as the rest of the field followed several lengths behind. Turning into the stretch, the field caught up to the leaders only for Rahy's Attorney to find another gear accelerating away from the pack in grand style. The Blood-Horse reported, Veteran Rahy's Attorney Takes Pan American:
“I’ve watched this horse run many times at Woodbine and was very confident in him today,” Wilson said. “One thing Ian Black told me that was really profound to me was he said ‘Rahy runs the entire stretch at Woodbine.’ That’s a three-eighths-mile stretch. I knew the horses were going to have to do some running to get by us and they didn’t.”
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"He’s been a good horse at middle distances throughout his career, including a grade I win at Woodbine (Woodbine Mile in 2008),” Black said. “He’s seven years old and we thought we’d try him in the longer races this season. “He’ll spend the spring at Keeneland. I don’t know whether we’ll run him in that race at the end of the meet (Sycamore Stakes), but there will be plenty of opportunities for him up north during the season (Woodbine).”
The Ellen Boje Farm home bred, who is also owned in part by Read Peters, and Jean and Jim MacLellan, has set the bar high for the rest of the turf stars congregating in trainer Ian Black's barn. Black will certainly be relishing the upcoming Woodbine turf schedule when he can turn loose his other turf monsters, Fifty Proof and Stormy Lord.
Rahy's Attorney just keeps on winning
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Canadian-bred Elite Alex struggled through a terrible trip in the Louisiana Derby rallying to a fourth-place finish in a race won by Pants On Fire. The favoured Mucho Macho Man was edged out by Nehro for place.
Mucho Macho Man has his excuses for not winning the event having lost a shoe leaving the starting gate. Elite Alex also suffered a difficult trip racing dead last throughout along the rail under jockey Calvin Borel. While the pace was quick enough, there was simply too much work to be done and rather than take the Bo-rail to the wire, Elite Alex was fanned into the middle of the track turning for home losing plenty of ground. The Afleet Alex colt is not yet nominated for the Queen's Plate but he would be the race favourite off of this effort.
It was announced on Sunday that both Pants On Fire and Mucho Macho Man are headed to the Kentucky Derby.
Pants On Fire burns to victory in the Louisiana Derby
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Ontario-bred filly Inglorious, trained by Josie Carrol for the Donver Stable, went to post as the 6-5 favourite in the Fair Ground Oaks but failed to fire under regular rider Chantal Sutherland finishing fourth in a race won by Daisy Devine. The Blood-Horse reports Daisy Devine Plucks Fair Ground Oaks:
Inglorious, the 6-5 favorite, was away last from the far outside as Grandacious, gunning from the rail, took the early lead over Daisy Devine. The pace -- :24.21 for the opening quarter-mile, :48.50 for the half and 1:13.14 for six furlongs -- was a slow one as Grandacious showed the way into a strong head wind on the backstretch with Daisy Devine drafting behind her. Midway on the final bend, Daisy Devine ranged up on the outside to get control at the top of the lane and opened up a two-length advantage by mid-stretch. Under enthusiastic handling from Graham, she dug down to hold off the late-running St. John's River and Kent Desormeaux in the final furlong by three-quarters of a length. The final time was 1:44.25 on a fast track.
Daisy Devine wins the Fair Grounds Oaks. Inglorious finishes fourth
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Sneaking under the radar last Wednesday was a sharp second place finish by BC-bred Ladner Lad in the $50K Portland Mile Handicap won by Deacon Speakin'. Ladner Lad was bred by Ralph Jesiak and is owned and trained by Philip Hall. To watch the race, click into this Blood-Horse results link.
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For readers who haven't been paying attention to the southern hemisphere, a five year-old mare named Black Caviar is the centre of attention in
Australia having recently won her eleventh consecutive race. The Herald Sun says, We love her, but Black Caviar bound for a bigger stage:
Now it is time for Sydney to take a look. Then Brisbane. Then back to Melbourne for the spring and then, just maybe, the world starting with Hong Kong in December. That's the way it should be. Soon enough she will be the Australian Horse of the Year and the world's highest rated galloper. Soon enough she will have a rest after (most likely) seven Group 1 and two Group 2 wins. The world deserves to see her. She is simply too good for sprinters on these shores. She is scaring off opposition - or beating the same horses with ruthless arrogance - and she is no longer a betting proposition.
The gorgeous mare is drawing a huge crowd to the track with each start and she has developed a fan base on Twitter where folks from all over the world stay up late, or get up early, to watch her race. Enjoy the below races that demonstrate the speed and grace of Black Caviar.
Black Caviar makes it 11 for 11 in the William Reid Stakes
Black Caviar winning the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington
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This was a frantic weekend of horse racing on all fronts. Not only were there a plethora of Kentucky Derby prep races, but Saturday morning offered racing fans the majesty of the Dubai World Cup. Needless to say, the Twitterverse was the place to be as racing fans across the continents congregated to commentate on the celebrations. With deadlines rapidly approaching for this writer for a variety of publications, I'll let the following race videos do the work!!
Twice The Appeal wins the 2011 Sunland Derby
Animal Kingdom wins the 2011 Vinery Spiral
Victoire Pisa wins the 2011 Dubai World Cup
Presvis wins the 2011 Dubai Duty Free
Rewilding wins the 2011 Dubai Sheema Classic
Rocketman wins the Dubai Golden Shaheen
Khawlah (Ire) becomes the first filly to win the UAE Derby
Skysurfers wins the 2011 Godolphin Mile
J J The Jet Plane wins the Al Quoz Sprint
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There are plenty of Woodbine trainers keeping busy in the off season so why not click into my Entries/Results page.
Keep track of the latest horse racing news by clicking into TripleDeadHeat's Woodbine News page or join in on the conversation by following TripleDeadHeat on Twitter.
Still need more? Check out my archived posts including Feature Stories and Photo Essays.
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