Del Mar, November 1 - Update 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.
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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Breeders' Cup Media note on Amis Mesa from Wednesday
Ami’s Mesa – Ivan Dalos’ Ami’s Mesa got her first feel of the Del Mar racing surface Wednesday morning as she galloped before the renovation break with trainer Josie Carroll looking on from the backstretch viewing stand.
“She had a 12-hour van ride to Louisville (Ky., from Toronto) just to get to the plane,” Carroll said of the filly who arrived here Monday afternoon for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. “When we came out yesterday morning, it was 50-50 whether she would go out and she was sound asleep in the stall, so that was that.”
Ami’s Mesa is undefeated in four starts in 2017 with all victories coming on all-weather surfaces at Woodbine and Presque Isle Downs.
“The only question for her is the dirt,” said Carroll, who is making her first visit to Del Mar. “She breezed a couple of times on it and breezed well, but she runs on the all-weather, so why switch?”
Luis Contreras, who has been aboard for all four victories this year, has the mount Saturday and will break from post 14.
“Well, she won’t get any dirt in her face right off the bat,” Carroll said.
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