When the small guy wins Big

When you see a small trainer celebrating a win it really means a lot to him and everyone else involve.  The early mornings and the days spent trying to get that horse fit has finally paid off.  These guys don't win many races at Woodbine but the purses keep them trying.  Woodbine racing has become very competitive these days with spikes in purses and turf changes.  It's that lure that attracts trainers from south of the border and have them coming here in Toronto to win a race and take their picture.

Recently I witness something special and it made me appreciate the smaller guy even more.  The excitement within the camp of Sylvain Pion stood out to me before and after last Sunday's 10th race at Woodbine.  You can tell they were feeling good about Dixie Whistler and his chances.  Sylvain was very talkative, calling owners to the paddock to take pictures and gathering his team.  All this was before the race and it told me everything.  Dixie Whistler wasn't camera shy at all and I think he likes his picture being taken.




Trainer Sylvain Pion current meet stats for 2016
Starts - 5
Wins - 2
Place - 1
Show - 0
Earnings - $79,619
Win % - 40%

My Picks

May 28




Woodbine Thoroughbreds

Race 1 - Major Production
Race 3 - Bring on the Bull
Race 4 - Flash Patch
Race 7 - Beat goes On
Race 8 -  Melmich
Race 9 - Reserve Love 
Race10 - Toriaezu Nama

May 29

Woodbine Thoroughbreds

Race 3-  Kentuckiana
Race 6 - leavem in Malibu

Race 8 -  Dyna's Recoleta

Eight In A Row Means Defeat Is Near

When he took his picture the last eight times the doubters still thought they would beat him next time so why would Preakness day be any different?  The champ is here the champ is here!  The champ in question is Nyquist who to this day still haven't lost a race and have beaten every single horse who tried to run with him.  So why is there no real hype surrounding this horse compared to American Pharoah?  perhaps the name isn't as catchy as the triple crown winner who gave the fans what they wanted in a hero in 2015.  

I need a legitimate reason to not pick Nyquist but every single factor makes me want to pick him to win this race.  Even if he wins the Preakness I guarantee that the doubters wont pick him to win the Belmont Stakes. Why don't we like this horse?  He is honest and he has given his owners one sweet ride so far straight down the stretch.  

Here is my reason why I dont like him in this race.  I never liked Pimlico track and it is not the best track for an exciting horse race.  Is that fair?  Is that a reason to discredit the champ?  Will one of these other horses really match the speed of the champ?  Sure, they may try but he has beaten the best three year old colts so far in the USA.  

Nyquist is still the one to beat and on that note I pick Fellowship over him.


My Picks

Woodbine May 21st

Race 1 - Get'erdonebud deserves another shot and a trip to the finish line.

Race 3 - Seffeara

Race 5 - Another Bid is my Long shot.

Race 8 - Songs and Laughter 

Pimlico May 21

Race 13 - Nyquist is the one to beat here but I definitely select  Fellowship.


Woodbine May 22nd 

Race 8 - Jennifer Lynette

Race 9 - The Mink Mile

Race 10 - Indiscreet Cat

Race 5 - Cool Cat Jazz 

She's always beautiful when in front

So now the argument begins of who the best horse is in Canada.  Or perhaps who is the best three year old colt.  These three year old colts still can be quite a project if they haven't hit their peak as yet, you can say they are like 2-3 year old boys.  They are playful, energetic, lazy, curious, stubborn.

Riker was very good last year 2015, winning all four races at Woodbine but ever since he packed bags and went across the border he has now lost three straight! So now it's 2016 and Woodbine season is in gear, who will be the new horse or will the 2015 juvenile champ continue to reign?

In tomorrow Marines stakes we are seeing a small field  of three year old boys battling for a stakes purse.   The last time Bear's Away ran he did it very strongly and he draws his partner Eurico Rosa Da Silva who will be guiding this one to the finish line.  

Tepin now has won six races in a row and this mare has me very excited to see her next race.  On Kentucky derby day she demolished her field showing everyone that she is the champ without prejudice.  Oh my! What a beautiful horse she is and Mark Casse must be very excited also.  It's going to be special if the owners of Tepin bring her back to woodbine.  

 

 

 

Woodbine Thoroughbreds

May 14  

race 1 - Mike

race 2 - Tevez

race 6 - Teresa's pride

race 8 - Bear's Away

May15

race 8 -  Treasuring

race 9 -  Flashy Patch

Belmont Park

May 14

race 10 - Kaigun

race 9 -  Governor Malibu

race 8 - sistas stroll (long shot play)

race 7 - Cavorting

Gray Skies May Not Be so Predictable

It's the first Saturday in May, already!  Yes and the excitement is showing on every curious eye for the sport of horse racing.  There are true champs in this sport and sometimes we fall in love with flirters who usually just...flirt.  To be honest there is always the true champ on that specific day and race but what comes after is always the unknown.  Too many times the unbeaten horse will lose on this first Saturday in May mainly because he is the target to beat.  Nyquist is the one to beat according to his performances leading up to this race but seriously they are nineteen other contenders this year and they all seem to think that they have a chance at this.

Nyquist may be all business on derby day

Talent is clearly not the question when it comes to the Kentucky Derby since everyone has won a race except for one talented horse by the name of Trojan Nation who almost won his last race at Aqueduct at odds of 81-1, coming in second in the wood memorial handicap.  Clearly Trojan Nation wont be the morning line favorite but for two dollars it's worth cheering for to end up on the board.  If the weather has anything at all to do with this race it  could be very interesting in the sloppy slop.

 For me, this year I will cheer for a grey horse and I think a grey horse will win this race especially if it's a overcast at Churchill downs..

In this race alone they are four grey horses to choose from but I think there is only one Destin to win.  Unlike others, I wont build a case for this horse I will just pick it and hopefully he runs well.  Jockey Javier Castellano will be onboard and he should be feeling great after winning the Kentucky Oaks on Cathryn Sophia

By the way, I just watched Catch a Glimpse win her sixth race in a row, wow!  That's the 2015 Canadian horse of the year!  Tepin will be trying for six in a row as well tomorrow in race 6 at Churchill Downs, both horses are trained by the very busy Mark Casse who is having a brilliant year so far.  Now let's discuss a little bit more of the Derby and see if anything interesting will show.  One horse to love is My man Sam, he is my second pick for an upset trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Irad Ortiz.

It's gonna be a great race on Derby day, try not to over handicap the race.

MY PICKS

  May 7th
Churchill Downs 

race 6  - Tepin
race 7 - Barbados
race 8 - Stonetastic
race 9 -  Shakhimat
race 10 -  Fellowship
race 11 - Bolo
race 12 - Destin

 

Woodbine 

 race 1 -  Philippian
race 6 -  Touch the clouds
race 8 - stacked deck
race10 - Rebellion On Tap

May 8th 

Woodbine

race 10 - Tessier

race 9  - conquest quickdraw.

race 8-   Galina Point