Woodbine: Gypsy Ring wins stretch battle with Paso Doble in New Providence

jdevivo — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:14:23 +0000

Ron Gierkink

Michael Burns

Gypsy Ring, under Justin Stein, prevails by three-quarters of a length in the New Providence.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The favored Gypsy Ring outdueled second choice Paso Doble to win the $125,000 New Providence Stakes on holiday Monday at Woodbine.

Gypsy Ring and Paso Doble stalked a trio of front-runners in the six-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired stock.

Gypsy Ring found room on the outside at the quarter pole, while Paso Doble had clear sailing along the rail. They proceeded to battle through the stretch, with Gypsy Ring prevailing by three-quarters of a length, in 1:10.72. Executive Five wound up third in the five-horse field.

Woodbine notes: Roxy Gap in fine form

webmaster — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:37:28 +0000

Bill Tallon

Michael Burns

Roxy Gap, with Patrick Husbands riding, wins the Hendrie.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Roxy Gap is back in the groove.

On Sunday, with her regular rider Patrick Husbands doing the honors, Roxy Gap rallied from just off the pace for a 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2, 6 1/2-furlong Hendrie Stakes.

Four weeks earlier, the 4-year-year filly had employed a similar style en route to scoring by a neck in the Grade 3, six-furlong Whimsical.

“She did what she had to do,” said Mark Casse, who had watched Roxy Gap break from the rail and prevail in a shortened field of six for the Hendrie.

Woodbine: Feature race puzzle poses challenge for pick four players

webmaster — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:12:34 +0000

Ron Gierkink

ETOBICOKE, Ontario —The average field size for Wednesday night’s eight-race card at Woodbine is a whopping 11.25 horses, and the pick four, which has a guaranteed pool of $100,000, could pay big.

The featured seventh race, which anchors the pick four, contains Queen’s Plate eligible Ultimate Destiny, who is nominated to the Plate Trial Stakes.

Ultimate Destiny is the lone 3-year-old in the Ontario-sired allowance route for nonwinners of three. He graduated second-time out at 2, before ending up second in the restricted Kingarvie Stakes in late November.

Woodbine: Blues Dancing proves uncatchable in Lady Angela

jdevivo — Sun, 20 May 2012 23:05:52 +0000

Ron Gierkink

Michael Burns

Luis Contreras guides Blues Dancing to a front-running victory in the Lady Angela for 3-year-old fillies.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Blues Dancing outran the other speed and kept on going to capture the $125,000 Lady Angela Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday.

Blues Dancing ($15.10) set honest fractions under Luis Contreras in the seven-furlong sprint, en route to a 3 ¾-length win over a stalking Miss Scarlet Road. Memories Last Love, another longshot, finished third, and favored Grace Phil was fourth in the eight-horse field of Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.

Woodbine: Roxy Gap pulls clear in Hendrie Stakes

jswavy — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:33:13 +0000

Ron Gierkink

Michael Burns

Roxy Gap, with Patrick Husbands up, wins the Grade 2 Hendrie Stakes by 2 1/2 lengths.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Roxy Gap tracked the leaders and then pounced in the lane to take the $183,000 Hendrie Stakes under Patrick Husbands on Saturday at Woodbine.

Roxy Gap won the Grade 2 event by 2 1/2 lengths over Kentucky shipper Dr. Diamonds Prize, who got the better of third-place finisher Sweet Cassiopeia in the front-end battle. The fractions were modest, and the final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:16.46. She paid $3.70.

Woodbine: Gypsy Ring in sharp form for New Providence

webmaster — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:08:18 +0000

Ron Gierkink

Michael Burns

Gypsy Ring, with Justin Stein aboard, wins the Debut Stakes on opening day at Woodbine. He returns in the New Providence on Monday.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Gypsy Ring, a Sovereign Award finalist for Canadian champion sprinter last year, will clash with rival Paso Doble on Victoria Day holiday Monday in the $125,000 New Providence Stakes.

Gypsy Ring has been among the more consistent sprinters at Woodbine. He would have won more than seven races had he not had hanging tendencies, which is something that jockey Justin Stein has had to deal with.

Woodbine: Proud of My Roots taking stakes shot in Lady Angela

webmaster — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:02:08 +0000

Bill Tallon

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Proud of My Roots has blossomed this spring for the barn of trainer Brian Lynch.

On Sunday, Proud of My Roots will be seeking to add a stakes-winning chapter to her heritage when she faces fellow Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies in the $125,000 Lady Angela at seven furlongs.

“This is her chance, to show us that she’s going in this direction,” said Lynch, who trains Proud of My Roots for the Ballycroy Training Centre of Steve Kemp.

Woodbine: Kitty's Got Class faces own kind in Lady Angela

webmaster — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:37:29 +0000

Ron Gierkink

Michael Burns

Kitty's Got Class faces Ontario-sired fillies in the Lady Angela.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Kitty’s Got Class, who has never lost in restricted company, will meet Ontario-sired opposition Sunday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Lady Angela, a seven-furlong stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

Kitty’s Got Class graduated at first asking by eight lengths in September, and then took the Victorian Queen Stakes by six lengths Oct. 1. Three weeks later, she struck again in the six-furlong Fanfreluche Stakes, for which she got just a 58 Beyer Figure, which was well below the 70 she earned in the six-furlong Victorian Queen.

Woodbine: Hendrie's slightly longer distance may help Atlantic Hurricane in rematch

webmaster — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:19:10 +0000

Ron Gierkink

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Roxy Gap ran better than ever when she took the six-furlong Whimsical Stakes over 2011 Canadian champion female sprinter Atlantic Hurricane. They will meet again over 6 1/2 furlongs Saturday at Woodbine in the Grade 2, $150,000 Hendrie Stakes.

Roxy Gap, a 4-year-old trained by Mark Casse, was unbeaten at 2. She captured the Fury Stakes early in her 3-year-old season, before tailing off.

Woodbine: Hard Not to Like may skip Oaks in favor of Queen's Plate

webmaster — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:48:30 +0000

Bill Tallon

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Hard Not to Like, who is one of the leading candidates for the June 3 Woodbine Oaks, could bypass that $500,000 race and head straight to the June 24 Queen’s Plate.

Owned and bred by Garland Williamson, Hard Not to Like finished second when making her 3-year-old bow and Polytrack debut in Keeneland’s Ashland on April 22 and was trying dirt for the first time when a troubled sixth in the May 4 Kentucky Oaks.