Woodbine Presence Strong in Gulfstream Stakes

TORONTO, January 29 – Woodbine talent will be on full display this weekend, as a competitive group of Canadian content gears up for a loaded stakes schedule south of the border. With a total of $900,000 on the line, Gulfstream Park features five stakes races on Saturday, headlined by the Gr. 2 Holy Bull. Here’s a look at the hometown connections entered in the 12-race card:

Gr. 2 Forward Gal Stakes:

With $200,000 up for grabs, Conquest Stables’ Conquest Babayaga makes her third lifetime start in the seven-furlong turf event. Conditioned by Mark Casse, the dark bay filly will be guided by California-based rider Mike Smith in her grass debut and is the morning line’s third choice at 7/2. A daughter of leading first crop sire, Uncle Mo, Conquest Babayaga demolished a field of nine in her October 31 maiden voyage, winning by 6 ¾ lengths over seven furlongs. She followed up with a place finish in the November 21 Glorious Song Stakes before shipping south.

Gr. 2 Swale Stakes:

Bear Stables’ Noholdingbackbear seeks his first stakes score in the Gr. 2 Swale. Going seven furlongs on the dirt, the Mike De Paulo trainee enters the race off a place finishes in both the Gr. 3 Hutcheson (January 2) and the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Stakes (October 31). With a bankroll of over $64,000, the son of Put It Back looks to cash in on the $150,000 purse under the accomplished rider, Luis Saez. Noholdingbackbear is 6/1 M/L.

Kitten’s Joy Stakes:

Conquest Stables’ Conquest Daddyo returns to the races after a promising fourth place finish in the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The Mark Casse trainee has recorded a solid work tab at Palm Meadows leading up to the one-mile turf event, and is the morning line favourite at 5/2. With Joe Bravo up, the son of Scat Daddy seeks his second stakes victory in the $100,000 event.

Gr. 3 Sweetest Chant Stakes:

The undefeated Ami’s Mesa will look to keep it rolling in the Gr. 3 Sweetest Chant. Trained by Josie Carroll, the Ivan Dalos homebred makes her turf debut and will also travel two turns for the very first time on Gulfstream’s inner course. A Sovereign Award finalist, the daughter of Sky Mesa is 8/1 M/L and will be ridden by Joe Bravo. Ami’s Mesa put on one of the most memorable performances in Woodbine’s 2015 thoroughbred season, as she scored by an eye-opening eight lengths in her career debut.

Conquest Stables’ Conquest Bebop will make her stakes debut in the Sweetest Chant, coming off a place finish in an allowance event, January 10 at Gulfstream Park. The chestnut filly by Scat Daddy was simply dominant when she debuted at Woodbine, winning by 7 ¼ lengths in her very first effort. The daughter of Scat Daddy is 5/1 M/L and will ridden by Mike Smith.

Gr. 2 Lambholmb South Holy Bull Stakes:

Kentucky Derby season is well underway, and the Gr. 2 Holy Bull has historically been a cornerstone for future Triple Crown talents. Mark Casse and Conquest Stables will send Conquest Big E to the starting gate, a striking roan colt by the prized Tapit. After an eighth place finish in the Gr. 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Conquest Big E was an easy winner over a sloppy track at Churchill Downs, taking the allowance event by two lengths. He is 7/2 M/L and will be ridden by Mike Smith.

Sam Houston Park, Gr. 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes:

Mark Casse’s Kaigun is set to run in the Lone Star state Saturday night, as he is the 3/1 favourite in the Gr. 3 turf event. Going 1 ½ miles, the six-year-old veteran by Northern Afleet will take on a field of 12 with Joe Bravo aboard. The Ontario-bred millionaire seeks is sixth career score, entering off a place finish in the Gr. 3 W.L. McKnight Handicap, December 26 at Gulfstream Park.

Gulfstream Non-Stakes Runners (Saturday):

Race 1 (Allowance Optional Claiming):

Leading Edge (R. Attfield)

Spring Spirit (M. Casse)

Conquest Artura (M. Casse)

Race 6 (Allowance Optional Claiming):

Conquest Misbehave (M. Casse)

Race 7 (Maiden Allowance):

Town Classic (B. Lynch)

Yong Gan (N. Gonzalez)

Cleopatra’s Strike (M. Pierce)

Hockey School (B. Lynch)

Conquest Sandman, AE (M. Casse)

Race 8 (Allowance Optional Claiming):

Conquest Typhoon (M. Casse)

My Cowboy (B. Lynch)

Race 12 (Maiden Claiming, $25,000):

Sevens (D. Vella)

Gulfstream Non-Stakes Runners (Sunday):

Race 1 (Claiming, $6,250):

Supersixphil (M. De Paulo)

Race 2 (Claiming, $6,250):

Splashy Gizmo (T. Attard)

Race 3 (Starter Optional Claiming):

Tiz Bobby (K. Vassilieva)

Race 4 (Claiming, $16,000):

Imperatore (K. Vassilieva)

Race 7 (Claiming, $30,000-$25,000)

Golden Point (M. Casse)

Golden Spear (D. Vella)

Race 8 (Maiden Allowance):

Blue Heart Diamond (M. Frostad)

Conquest City Girl (M. Casse)

Glorious (R. Baker)

Race 9 (Allowance):

Little Distorted (B. Lynch)

Deep Sea (M. Casse)

Race 10 (Allowance Optional Claiming):

Dorsett (B. Lynch)

Race 11 (Claiming, $16,000):

Super C Me (W. Tharrenos)

Oaklawn Park (Saturday):

Race 5 (Maiden Allowance):

Moon King (M. Casse)

Race 7 (Allowance):

Quiet Ruler (M. Casse)

Race 9 (Allowance):

Turn Back Time (M. Casse)

Oaklawn Park (Sunday):

Race 7 (Allowance):

Miss Mandate (M. Casse)

Conquest Curlgirl (M. Casse)

Tampa Bay Downs (Saturday):

Race 1 (Claiming, $5,000):

Wildcat Prince (J. Simms)

Pete’s Pita (J. Simms)

Race 3 (Starter Optional Claiming):

Awfully Sinful (M. Wright)

Race 4 (Maiden Claiming, $25,000-$20,000):

Olympic Bid (R. Halden)

Race 9 (Allowance Optional Claiming):

Schoolofhardrocks, AE (B. Lynch)

Race 10 (Starter Handicap):

Cruise More (M. Wright)

Tampa Bay Downs (Sunday):

Race 1 (Claiming, $5,000)

Reel Good Movie (J. Simms)

Penn National (Saturday):

Race 1 (Claiming, $10,000-$9,000)

Old Key West (S. Chircop)

Race 3 (Claiming, $8,000-$7,000)

Its the Rush (S. Chircop)

Race 8 (Claiming, $5,000)

Harrington (S. Chircop)

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