Gold standard Hemlo Gold, a 3-year-old son of Not Bourbon-Charge the Net, was the longest shot on the board in Saturday’s race but pulled off the upset in the 1 1/16-mile race over the inner turf. Trained by Elizabeth Elder, the chestnut colt, a homebred for Robert Cudney, is now 2-0-1 from six career starts. Hemlo Gold and jockey Jose Campos winning Race 2 on September 9, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) On tap Lady Brew, 0-4-2 in her six starts this season, broke through with a winning effort in Saturday’s fourth race, a one-mile trip over the E.P. Taylor turf. Under Ryan Munger, the Steven Chircop trainee was full of run down the lane to take top prize for owner JDLP Holdings, Inc. The daughter of Point of Entry-Ginger Brew was bred in Ontario by Adena Springs. Lady Brew and jockey Ryan Munger winning Race 4 on September 9, 2023 (Michael Burns Photo) Pro performance Rookie Radar, a 5-year-old son of Rookie Sensation-Jada’s Pride, won his first race of the campaign for trainer Abraham Katryan and owner/co-breeder Kanny Ng. The grey gelding, who has posted 12-straight top-five finishes, recorded his first victory since September 2022. Rookie Radar and jockey Juan Crawford winning Race 2 on September 10, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) In a Rhythm Sacred Dancer, a 4-year-old daughter of Giant Gizmo-Classic Soul, notched her first stakes in Sunday’s 100,000 Zadracarta. It was also the first stakes crown for trainer Don Pleterski and owner Kata Pleterski. Ridden by Sahin Civaci, the Ontario-bred dark bay returned $31.10 for the victory. Sacred Dancer and jockey Sahin Civaci winning the Zadracarta Stakes on September 10, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) The Sahin scene Sunday’s stakes races, the aforementioned Zadracarta, and the $250,000 Wonder Where, the final jewel in the Canadian Triple Tiara series, were twice as nice for jockey Sahin Civaci. One race after teaming with Sacred Dancer, the multiple graded stakes-winning rider teamed with Tito’s Calling to take top prize in the 1 ¼-mile Wonder Where. Trained by Mike De Paulo for owner/breeder Robert Marzilli, the 3-year-old daughter of Society’s Chairman-Unstablenthemornin paid $9.20 for her authoritative score. Tito’s Calling and jockey Sahin Civaci winning the Wonder Where Stakes on September 10, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Worth repeating “The first one is always the sweetest one. We pointed her to this race for the last month and a half. It was either this or a race next week. She’s been running good enough, so we’ll give her a chance. And here we are.” – Trainer Don Pleterski, after winning his first stakes race, Sunday’s $250,000 Wonder Where, with Sacred Dancer. Worth watching Four Strong Winds, trained by Catherine Day Phillips for owners Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry, whistled by his rivals in Sunday’s fifth race, on the way to a 6 ¾-length triumph in a six-furlong maiden special weight event for 2-year-olds. Kazushi Kimura was aboard for the win. Worth knowing It’s a super Saturday of star-stacked action at Woodbine, an afternoon that features four outstanding stakes, including a trio of Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races, namely, the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T), the $500,000 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes (G1T), and the $500,000 bet365 Summer Stakes (G1T). https://woodbine.com/stakes-schedule/ Share This:Share
