DEL MAR, November 2 - Updates on the 2017 Woodbine starters and Canadian connections of horses entered in the
34th Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held at Del Mar Racetrack in California on Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 4.
Courtesy of Woodbine Communications Office
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DIXIE MOON IN GOOD COMPANY
Dixie Moon (
pictured, Michael Burns photo), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf contender, has made her home in Del Mar’s Barn BB since arriving from Louisville with 18 Breeders Cup’ horses on Monday.
The chestnut, Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry’s homebred filly, goes into the race with two wins including a sharp one-length score in Woodbine’s Cup and Saucer Stakes last time out against colts.
The March foal, at Del Mar with trainer Catherine Day Phillips, her husband Todd Phillips and groom Nicola Brolly, has taken to her surroundings.
“She galloped and was great when she was (paddock) schooling (on Wednesday), and she galloped (Thursday) morning,” Todd Phillips said. “She was tired the first day but she perked back up and is taking it all in.”
Todd Phillips, describes Dixie Moon as the type of filly ready to take on the Breeders’ Cup challenge.
“She has a very strong personality. Her mom (Dixie Chicken) was like that. Catherine trained her. She has the traits of her mom but nicer. We used to call her ‘Angry Chicken.’ (Dixie Chicken) is a very smart filly. She’s taking it all in. The first day she’s looking around and saying ‘Who’s that?’ and ‘What’s this in my world?’ She’s doing very well.”
Dixie Moon is well regarded among observers at Del Mar, but her stall is adjacent to two of the sport’s titans. Mark Casse to her south and…Bob Baffert to her north.
Metres away are a couple dozen photographers taking photos of Baffert’s horses cooling out after training on Thursday morning, including Arrogate, arguably the sport’s biggest star.
“Mark Casse is here and Bob Baffert with Arrogate, Drefong, Collected, Mubtaahij are here,” Todd Phillips gestured, with the clicking of cameras in the background. “We don’t see these guys every day and they are right here. The racing fan comes out in all of us.”
Eurico Rosa da Silva, Woodbine’s leading jockey, also made an appearance on the Del Mar backstretch Thursday morning, watching the filly train and posing for pictures.
The Juvenile Fillies Turf event goes at 2:25 p.m. PT (5:25 p.m. ET) as the first of 13 championship events.
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CASSE REPRESENTING WOODBINE, CANADA
Not surprisingly, the Mark Casse barn is a significant presence for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar this year.
The eight-time champion trainer at Woodbine is third in wins in North America among conditioners with 324 and fifth in purse earnings ($14,129,366).
At Del Mar, the nine-time Sovereign Award winner has seven horses in the 2017 title event: Awesome Slew (Dirt Mile) and Flameaway (Juvenile Turf) on Friday, plus Wonder Gadot, Heavenly Love and Gio Game (Juvenile Fillies), Holding Gold (Turf Sprint) and World Approval (Mile).
He has been gracious answering pertinent questions regarding the status of his starters like: “How’s he coming into the race?” or “Do you think she’ll be on the lead?”
Through it all, he relayed his appreciation for Woodbine and Canada and what both have done for him in his career on Thursday morning.
“I always feel I’m representing Woodbine and Canada,” Casse said. “It’s been a big part of my life and a huge reason why I’m here. That’s why I’ve come to the (Ricoh Woodbine) Mile twice the last little bit (with two of the highest profile horses in North America with Tepin in 2016 and World Approval in 2017).”
Casse dominates the Woodbine standings with 79 wins and $4,607,423 in purse earnings this year.
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CANADIAN CONNECTIONS:
TO BE RACED ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
Dixie Moon - Owned and bred in Ontario by Sean & Dorothy Fitzhenry; conditioned by Woodbine-based trainer Catherine Day Phillips; piloted by Woodbine's leading jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva. Post 12, 20-1 in the morning line (ML).
Rushing Fall - Co-breeder John D. Fielding of Toronto. Post 11, 7-2.
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION DIRT MILE
Awesome Slew - Conditioned by Woodbine's leading trainer Mark Casse. Post 5, 12-1.
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION JUVENILE TURF
Catholic Boy - Co-breeder John D. Fielding. Post 4, 12-1.
Encumbered - Owned by Windsor native John Paul Reddam's Reddam Racing LLC. Post 9, 15-1.
Flameaway - Bred in Ontario by B.C.-based Barry and Deb Holmes' Phoenix Rising Farms; trained by Mark Casse. Post 10, 20-1.
Hemp Hemp Hurray - Bred in Ontario by Bernard & Karen McCormack of Janetville. Post 12, 8-1.
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION DISTAFF
Forever Unbridled - Owned and bred (in Kentucky) by B.C.-based Charles Fipke. Post 6, 4-1. On Wednesday, she had a 1 1/4-mile gallop. “I’m very happy with her,” said trainer Dallas Stewart.
Mopotism - Owned by Reddam Racing LLC. Post 3, 30-1. On Wednesday, she had a 1 1/2-mile gallop.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2017
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION JUVENILE FILLIES
Gio Game - Trained by Mark Casse. Post 4, 15-1. On Wednesday, she had a 1 1/2-mile gallop and will do so again on Thursday.
Heavenly Love - Trained by Mark Casse. Post 1, 9-2. On Wednesday, she had a 1 1/2-mile gallop and will do so again on Thursday.
Wonder Gadot - Bred in Ontario by David Anderson's Anderson Farms based in St. Thomas; trained by Mark Casse. Post 11, 8-1. On Wednesday, she had a 1 1/2-mile gallop and will do so again on Thursday.
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION TURF SPRINT
Holding Gold - Trained by Mark Casse. Post 2, 15-1.
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION FILLY & MARE SPRINT
Ami’s Mesa – Owned and bred in Ontario by Toronto's Ivan Dalos of Tall Oaks Farm; conditioned by Woodbine-based trained Josie Carroll; reined by Woodbine-based jockey Luis Contreras. Post 14, 20-1. On Wednesday, she galloped after arriving at Del Mar on Monday afternoon.
GRADE 1 $1.5 MILLION SPRINT
B Squared - Owned and bred (in California) by Reddam Racing LLC. Post 4, 30-1.
Ransom the Moon – Bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm of Milton. Post 9, 12-1.
GRADE 1 $2 MILLION MILE
Heart to Heart - Bred in Ontario by Alberta resident Darrell Bauder's Red Hawk Ranch; owned by Terry Hamilton of Alberta. Post 2, 6-1. On Wednesday, he had a 1 3/8-mile gallop. “Julien (Leparoux) fits him best,” said trainer Brian Lynch, about the jockey decision.
World Approval - Trained by Mark Casse. Post 5, 9-2.
GRADE 1 $2 MILLION JUVENILE
Bahamian - Owned by Reddam Racing LLC. Post 1, 30-1. On Wednesday, he went 1 1/2 miles after a paddock tour.
GRADE 1 $4 MILLION TURF
Bullards Alley - Bred (in Kentucky) by Toronto native Eugene Melnyk. Post 2, 15-1.
GRADE 1 $6 MILLION CLASSIC
Pavel - Owned by Reddam Racing LLC. Post 10, 20-1. On Wednesday, he had a 1 ?-mile gallop. “He’s doing super great,” said trainer Doug O’Neill.
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2017 WOODBINE STARTERS:
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
Capla Temptress – Winner of the 'Breeders' Cup Win & You're In' Grade 1 Natalma Stakes on September 17. Post 9, 6-1.
Dixie Moon - Winner of a Maiden Special Weight on August 19; runner-up in the Natalma Stakes; winner of the Cup and Saucer Stakes on October 8. Post 12, 20-1.
Ultima D – Runner-up in a Maiden Special Weight on May 19. Post 5, 12-1.
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION JUVENILE TURF
Untamed Domain – Winner of the 'Breeders' Cup Win & You're In' Grade 2 Summer Stakes on September 17. Post 2, 8-1.
Hemp Hemp Hurray - Runner-up in the Summer Stakes. Post 12, 8-1.
Flameaway - Winner of a Maiden Special Weight on May 28. Post 10, 20-1.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2017
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION JUVENILE FILLIES
Wonder Gadot - Winner of an Allowance race on August 26; third-place finisher in the Natalma Stakes; winner of the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes on October 7. Post 11, 8-1.
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION TURF SPRINT
Cotai Glory – Runner-up in the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes on October 15. Post 8, 20-1.
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION FILLY & MARE SPRINT
Ami's Mesa – Winner of an Allowance Optional Claiming race on June 30; winner of the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes on July 22; winner of the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes on August 26. Post 14, 20-1.
GRADE 1 $1 MILLION FILLY & MARE TURF
Kitten’s Roar – Runner-up in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes on October 15. Post First Also Eligible, 20-1. On Wednesday, trainer Mike Maker said he ready for his filly to run. “Hopefully she gets in. She’s a tough filly.”
Nezwaah – Fifth-place finisher in the E.P. Taylor Stakes. Post 11, 20-1.
GRADE 1 $2 MILLION MILE
World Approval – Winner of the Grade 1 'Breeders' Cup Win & You're In' Ricoh Woodbine Mile on September 16. Post 5, 9-2.
Lancaster Bomber – Runner-up in the Woodbine Mile. Post 4, 20-1.
GRADE 1 $4 MILLION TURF
Bullards Alley – Runner-up in the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes on July 2; winner of the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes on October 15. Post 2, 15-1.
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