Woodbine names Stars of the Month for May

TORONTO, June 6, 2022 – Woodbine Entertainment today announced the Woodbine Stars of the Month for Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing in the month of May.

The Woodbine Stars of the Month recognizes top performers in three categories (Horse, Trainer, Jockey/Driver) for live racing at Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park. The “Stars” are selected by the Woodbine Communications Team and consideration for selection is based off statistics, significant wins, notable career accomplishment and milestones.

The Woodbine Stars of the Month will be named on the first Monday of each month.

Performances from start of the Thoroughbred season (April 16) through the end of May were considered in the selection of this month’s Stars at Woodbine. The Standardbred winners were selected based off performances in May.

Thoroughbred 

Horse: Arzak

The Michael Trombetta trained four-year-old started his season two for two by capturing the Thorncliffe Stakes on April 17 and the Gr. 3 Jacques Cartier on May 15.  

Trainer: Josie Carroll 

Carroll posted seven wins from 22 starts for a 33% win percentage (highest among nine trainers with 20+ starters). The Hall of Fame trainer’s top performer through May at Woodbine was Loyalty, as the three-year-old filly won both of her starts (Maiden Special Weight, Allowance).  

Jockey: Kazushi Kimura 

Kimura led all jockeys at Woodbine with 26 wins (20% win percentage) and finished Top-3 in 56% of his mounts. The defending jocks title holder, Kimura posted three stakes victories (Gr. 3 Jacques Cartier, Gr. 3 Whimsical, Thorncliffe Stakes). 

Standardbred 

Horse: Oney Hall 

The Bob McIntosh trained six-year-old won three of four starts in May, with his only loss being a narrow runner-up finish. All three of Oney Hall’s victories came in the Free For All/Preferred, including a national season’s best mile of 1:51.1 on May 16.

Trainer: Richard Moreau 

Moreau posted 19 wins from 98 starts for a 19% win percentage. Moreau capped off the month with four wins on the May 30^th card. Top performers included Jimmy Freight (two Free For All Pace wins) and Patriarch Hanover (Free For All Trot winner).  

Driver: James MacDonald 

MacDonald led all Woodbine drivers with 29 wins in the month of May (21% win percentage). The reigning O’Brien Award Driver of the Year won three SBOA Stakes Finals (Adare Castle, Silver Label, Twin B Archie). MacDonald currently leads all Woodbine drivers in victories, sitting at 145 wins through May.