Racing Corner - Sandman at Churchill Downs

Cheering Section

Sandman at Churchill Downs. Courtesy Churchill Downs media

It has been a heck of a two weeks for Woodbine's leading trainer Mark Casse who has a strong contender for both the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1).

Last Saturday, April 5, Casse-trainee La Cara, owned and bred by Tracy Farmer, led all the way and won the Ashland Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies and she picked up 100 Oaks points. The Oaks is on May 2.

Also last weekend, on April, Casse fillies Nitrogen (a finalist for the Sovereign Award for Champion 2-year-old Filly in Canada for 2024) and Vixen finished 1-2 in the Appalachian Stakes (G2). Nitrogen is owned by D.J. Stables, which races a lot of horses at Woodbine.

On Mar. 29, the impressive Sandman won the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the son of Tapit is already at Churchill Downs getting prepared for the Derby. Sandman is co-owned by D.J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, St. Elias Stables and CJ Stables.

Casse seeks his first Oaks and Derby wins.

Coming up this weekend there are a few Ontario horses in action at Keeneland. On April 12, trainers Josie Carroll and Roger Attfield square off with first time starters Hibiscus and Double Velocity, both Ontario bred 3-year-old fillies. Hibiscus is a homebred for LNJ Foxwoods by Constitution and she has post 1 in race 3 while Double Velocity, owned and bred by Attfield, has post 5. The race is 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

On Apr. 13, Chiefswood Stables' much improved Simcoe goes for his third straight win in a $150,000 allowance race. The Ontario bred 5-year-old is trained by Katerina Vassilieva and he drew post 1 in the six furlong sprint.

Spring Betting Tips

New racing seasons are getting underway this spring with Woodbine set to begin its 70th Thoroughbred meeting on April 26 and Fort Erie, May 27.

Spring racing at Woodbine offers fascinating dashes at short distances  with horses coming in from tracks south of the border and farms and training centres in the frozen north.

Here are some useful trends and tips for picking a winner in the early days of the Woodbine season:

Shippers

It's no secret that horses who have been racing or training during the winter months at tracks or training centres south of the border will have a bit of an edge over horses prepping in Canada.

Using www.equibase.com historical charts feature, you can view every result at any track going back many years.

From the first four racing days of the last two Woodbine seasons, the larger stables that had horses at tracks in Florida, Kentucky or New Orleans did a lot of winning. Their horses were simply sharp and fit.

In 2024, half of the 40 races on the first two weekends were won by horses who were coming off races at Gulfstream, Tampa Bay Downs, Turfway Park or Fair Grounds, or had been working in Florida.

Of course the bigger stables of Mark Casse and Martin Drexler have an edge because of numbers in addition to some of its starters being winter trained or raced. Kevin Attard, who also has one of the larger stables, prepares most of his horses in the winter at a Caledon East training centre.

But there are plenty of smaller barns that have good, recent records of winning races in the spring. They include Darwin Banach, Ross Armata, Ted Holder, Steve Flint, Mike DePaulo, Katerina Vassilieva to name a few.

It's the horse of course!

Superb spring and layoff trainers aside, the horses who win the short races in the spring are the quickest horses. There is a big difference between a 5-furlong specialist and 6 and 7 furlong runners. Races at 5 or 5 1/2 furlongs are won by quick horses, not necessarily speed horses.

Below is an example of a race at Gulfstream in Florida this winter. Most of the horses from this particular race are included. Past Performances are courtesy of Daily Racing Form.

One of these gals led from start to finish in this 5 furlong turf dash and paid almost 7 to 1. Can you figure out which one it was? The answer is below.

Epona 1 and Epona

The winner of this race was Epona's Hope who has shown in the past she can be clear of her rivals after two furlongs in :20.80 (last September) and clear through half a mile in :43.60. No other horse in the field is in front by at least half a length going quick fractions similar to those.

Those are the two major keys to betting horses in the spring, current fitness and quickness. Woodbine's 70th season begins April 26.

20 Years of Woodbine's Opening Day, First Race Winners

2024 HOBBIE CLASS – trained at Classic Mile in Ocala with Ted Holder and she sped to the lead and coasted under Jason Hoyte.

2023 SILVER TUNES – she was prepared in Florida and arrived in trainer Barrington Siddo's barn in the spring and jockey Amanda Vandermeersch sent her along to victory.

2022 MY FINAL TRICK – took over from heavily-favoured Lime (Wesley Ward) to win for Daryl Hasmatali and Emma-Jayne Wilson

2021 FIVE DAYS IN MAY – opening day was June 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Frank DiGiulio’s filly was a 9-to-2 winner for trainer Bob Tiller and jockey Daisuke Fukumoto

2020 MAJESTIC FEVER – opening day was June 6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Darryl Holland, a top European rider who joined the Woodbine jockey colony in 2020, got his season off to a big start, bringing this 14-to-1 home for Vito Armata

2019 BROOKIES BEAR  – at 4-to-5, this Colebrook Farms filly, trained by Ashlee Brnjas, won easily under Luis Contreras

2018 HOUDINI AFFAIR  - the 3rd first race of the year winner for jockey Rafael Hernandez came on this Chiefswood Stable’s 5-to-2 shot trained by Stuart Simon

2017 PRINCESS NIIGON  - at 3-to-1, this gal was third favourite and trained by Julia Carey

2016 SPLASHY GIZMO  - trainer Tino Attard sent out this mare to win at 9-to-5 and Luis Contreras rode

2015 CIRCLE THE WORLD   - American-based trainer Wesley Ward had this well-bred Munnings filly ready to win at 2-to-5. Rafael Hernandez rode

2014 HIGH TEE – the grey mare won at 8-to-5 for trainer John Mattine and jockey Contreras

2013 FOOLISH – from last to first, jockey Todd Kabel guided this gal to win at 6-to-1 for Nick DeToro

2012 ABSOULUTE HEAVEN – owner and trainer Jim Ensom won with mare who was ridden by Steve Bahen

2011 NEW TOMORROW – trainer Wesley Ward won the opener with this gal who was 2-to-5

2010 NEVERRGUWITHRICHIE – at 3-to-5, this youngster won for trainer Larry Rivellli

2009 FLASHY N CLASSY – Anne Cameron sent out John Terdick’s mare to win at 5-to-2 with Chantal Sutherland riding

2008 HAVEUBEENTOLDTODAY – Eurico Rosa da Silva was on board this gal at 6-to-1 for Nick Gonzalez

2007 HELLO HALEY – Donver Stables’ filly was second favourite and trained by Josie Carroll

2006 FIRE POWER – this guy was 4-to-1 for owner Frank Romano and trainer Reade Baker

2005 MARYFIELD – she would go on to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint later in her career. Here she won her maiden for trainer Josie Carroll.