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View From The Booth by Robert Geller – August 8, 2021

August 8, 2021

TORONTO, August 8, 2021 – Woodbine’s Track Announcer Robert Geller has the best view of the racetrack from his booth on the sixth floor! Check out which horses have been catching the eye of Robert and are worth circling down for upcoming races at Woodbine Racetrack.

CURLIN CANDY (07-31-21 Race 7 No 7, 2nd)

Trainer Mike de Paulo opted for the My Dear Stakes in which to debut Curlin Candy, the 2YO daughter of Caren, herself a juvenile star for the barn. The precocity was there in this first lifetime start, Curlin Candy run down inside the final furlong by the previously raced Diabolic who remained undefeated for the Mark Casse barn.

Curlin Candy was caught three wide and faced pace pressure throughout before grabbing a narrow advantage on her rivals at the top of the lane. She gave in grudgingly as the winner drew off at the end of the 5-1/2f to score by 2-1/4 lengths with a neck back in third to Royal Engagement with almost two lengths back to the race favorite, Lois Len.

This was not the easiest spot in which to start a career but a second placed finish in stakes company bodes well for the future. No doubt, expectations are high given that Curlin Candy is so well-bred, the sire Curlin, adding further strength and stamina to the equation. It is only a matter of time before Curlin Candy wins and hopefully in a stakes race.

NIKOLAOU (08-01-21 Race 6, No 7, 3rd)

The progression from the first to the second lifetime start for Nikolaou was encouraging. Queen’s Plate winning breeders, Brendan and Karen McCormack, owner Henley Thoroughbreds and trainer, John Charalambous are the team behind Nikoaou, a 3-Y-O son of Maclean’s Music from a Malibu Moon dam.

In his debut on June 20 on the main track at seven furlongs, Nikolaou closed ground from the back of the field to finish fifth but still beaten a dozen lengths, five lengths behind Lenny K who went on to win a sprint next out. Seven weeks later, Nikolaou returned to the racetrack in a maiden allowance at a mile but on turf in the Ontario Bred Sales Graduate Maiden.

After dropping back through the field up the backstretch, Nikolaou, came from thirteenth of the fourteen horse field at the half mile to take third, a length and a quarter behind Hiatus who himself was that margin from the winner Giant Waters. Nikolaou came with a long, sustained run that gathered steam the length of the E.P. Taylor homestretch. He looks suited to either surface and middle distances.

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