ETOBICOKE, Ontario – There were many skeptics when Fifty Proof returned from a 16-month layoff last Sunday for the $126,600 Sir Barton Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.
Fifty Proof was voted Canada’s champion older male of 2011, but his campaign had been cut short after just four starts, and he had been sidelined again this spring when he was gearing up for his return.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Huronia defeated a quality field of maidens with a good turn of foot Nov. 10. She’s back in action Wednesday night at Woodbine in the featured fifth race and should be favored in the Ontario-sired allowance for nonwinners of two.
Huronia, a 3-year-old trained by Stu Simon, missed the break before rushing up to contest a lively pace when she debuted Oct. 6. Understandably, she weakened in the final sixteenth, but held on for second behind a charging Sinister Spinster.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Bahamian Squall just keeps on getting better. On Sunday at Gulfstream Park, the steadily improving 3-year-old ended a series of second -place finishes and did so in a big way, slipping through along the rail to a convincing 3 ½-length victory over Fort Loudon in the $100,000 Sunshine State Stakes.
INGLEWOOD, Calif.- Sunday’s pick six returned $248,087 to two ticketholders at Betfair Hollywood Park, following heightened interest after a carryover from Saturday.
Bettors added $721,212 to the pool on Sunday in pursuit of a carryover of $110,904 from Saturday.
The winners of Sunday’s pick six races were Ricspretentiousgal ($8.40), Cloudy Moon ($22.60), Bonita Star ($8.40), Salah Champ ($5.20), Smiling Tiger ($5.40), and English Puddin ($36.20). Salah Champ and Smiling Tiger were favored.
Consolation tickets with five winners were worth $1,707.
Forest Mouse won the fifth stakes race of his career on Sunday, when he held off Red Lead by three-quarters of a length in the $218,120 Distance Championships at Zia Park in Hobbs, N.M. It was another four lengths back in third to Hurricane Lake.
The Distance Championship was the final major stakes of the Zia meet that closes on Tuesday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Smiling Tiger ended a six-race losing streak over the last 17 months with a convincing win in Sunday’s $100,000 Vernon Underwood Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.
The Grade 3 Underwood was Smiling Tiger’s eighth career stakes win, and his second start after undergoing a summertime operation to improve his breathing. In the first start of his return from that minor procedure, Smiling Tiger finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.
“Smiling Tiger is back,” co-owner Philip Lebherz said in the winner’s circle on Sunday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Canadian champion Fifty Proof made a triumphant return to the races from a 16-month layoff Sunday at Woodbine, winning the $126,600 Sir Barton Stakes in front-running style under Justin Stein.
Trained by Ian Black, Fifty Proof set fractions of 24.39 and 48.38 seconds in the 1 1/16-mile event for Ontario-sired stock. He opened up a comfortable lead early in the stretch, before coasting home on top by a1 ¼ lengths, in 1:43.46. Bobcaygeon finished third in the 12-horse field.
There were nine winning tickets sold on Sunday’s pick six at Aqueduct, each worth $24,593.
The card began with a two-day carryover of $73,398 and an additional $259,564 was wagered into the pool.
The winning sequence of 2-6-6-5-3-6 consisted of Sheza Classy Lady ($2.60), Adriatic Dream ($7.70), Carrot Thief ($22.80), Best Actor ($9.30), Swiss Tart ($8.20), and Yes It’s Pink ($8.40).
The Canadian filly Inglorious will start in Saturday’s $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes. Amani, the multiple stakes winner from Chile, will not.
Inglorious, who has won five stakes at Woodbine, will be ridden by Mike Smith in the Grade 2 Bayakoa, which is run over 1 1/16 miles. The field will also include Charm the Maker, Class Included, Lady of Fifty, Open Water, and Willa B Awesome.
Amani, winless in three starts in this country this year, will miss the race because of a bruised foot, trainer Neil Drysdale said on Sunday.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Game On Dude is likely to start his 2013 campaign in the same race that launched his 2012 season – the $200,000 San Antonio Stakes over 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Feb. 3.
Saturday, Game On Dude made his final start of 2012, winning his fifth stakes of the year in the $242,500 Native Diver Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park. Ridden by Mike Smith, Game On Dude fought for the early lead with the 3-year-old Nonios, took the lead on the first turn, and won by 1 1/4 lengths over Nonios in a field of five.
