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Weekend Notables & Quotables (April 22-23)

April 24, 2023

Silver Tunes is as good as gold

Jockey Amanda Vandermeersch teamed with Silver Tunes to win the opening race of the 2023 Thoroughbred season, guiding the daughter of Chitu-Nile Tunes to a head victory in the 4 ½ furlong main track race.

Jockey Amanda Vandermeersch, Silver Tunes, and connections in the winner's circle on April 22, 2023 (Michael Burns Photo)
Jockey Amanda Vandermeersch, Silver Tunes, and connections in the winner’s circle on April 22, 2023 (Michael Burns Photo)

Fits the ‘Bill’

Trainer Bill Tharrenos won two races on opening day, the first with Allen Diggs and the second with Too Much Vino.

Road to victory

Basalt Street, owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling, and trained by Kevin Attard, flew up the rail to win the sixth race on Saturday, with apprentice Sofia Vives in the irons.

A triple and a double

Jockey Rafael Hernandez won three races and trainer Mark Casse won twice on Sunday. Hernandez teamed with Casse trainee Highly Flammable to win the second. Two races later, Stormy Soul gave the two-time Plate-winning rider his second victory on the card. In the finale, Hernandez scored the hat trick after Exceed dug deep to come out on top. Casse, also a two-time Plate winner, notched his second triumph with Ready for a Fight in the sixth race.

Worth repeating

“It’s a great feeling any time you win and it’s special to win the first race of the season. My horse [Silver Tunes], I knew she would break well, and she just kept on going. It was a big effort.” – Amanda Vandermeersch

Worth watching

Emma-Jayne Wilson partners Too Much Vino to victory in the final race on opening day

Worth knowing

The first two stakes races of the season take place on Saturday, April 29 (Star Shoot Stakes) and Sunday, April 30 (Woodstock Stakes).

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