War bomber follows same path to King Edward

One sec Woodbine Racing fans will be able to watch the crowning of a new racing star in the King’s Plate Stakes, while the supporting races on August 17 will feature big name winners such as War bomber AND Patches O’Houlihan return to defend their titles in today’s classified events.

Bruno Schickedanz’s War Bomber caused a bit of a surprise last year when he won the C$205,700 King Edward Stakes (G2T). Now 6 years old, War Front The gelding showed determination and heart during the long fight and claimed his second overall victory.

Video: King Edward S. (G2T)

The victory could have taken the wind out of his sails as he failed to repeat the effort, finishing in four more starts. However, on July 20 he showed that he was returning to form at the right time, finishing a solid second in the seven-fund Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T), the same race and result he used as a springboard to King Edward glory last year.

Returning to the mile, where he has a 3-6 record, the Irish-born rider is looking for an eighth victory in 25 starts to boost his career earnings to $470,357.

Michael Lay won by one neck in Connaught Cruden Bay 6 year old son Big screen Ontario-bred. The gelding has won two straight starts since trainer Donald MacRae handed riding duties to last year’s Sovereign Award winner, jockey Sofia Vives.

The pair will face a new opponent in the form of Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch Philo of Arianna who in 2022 joined the group of winners of the King Edward Award.

After this victory of the Brazilian breeding Drosselmeyer The gelding has competed against some of the best sprinters and milers on grass in the United States and has done decently against horses like House Creed , Emanuel AND Cock .

After back-to-back defeats at the feet of Cogburn, Mark Casse’s protégé returned to Woodbine and showed his class by winning the Highlander Stakes (G2T) by 2 1/4 lengths on June 29.

In six starts at Woodbine, Filo Di Arianna won five and finished second the rest. His Toronto heroics accounted for $344,385 of his $527,816 in career earnings.

Entries: bet365 King Edward S. (G2T)

Woodbine, Saturday, August 17, 2024, Race 8

• IIT degree
• 1m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 years and more
• 16:23 (local)

Speedy Patches O’Houlihan tries to maintain dominance in a bold venture

While War Bomber warms up for his bid to make it two more wins in the King Edward, Patches O’Houlihan will be settling in after what owner Frank Di Giulio Jr. hopes will be a successful defense of his title in the $150,000 Bold Venture Stakes (G3) over 6 1/2 furlongs.

Bold Venture is where the then three-year-old Ontario-bred fast horse officially introduced himself to Canadian racing fans, competing against older horses and claiming his first overall victory.

Dreams of a perfect season came to an end with his seventh and final start in 2023, but Reload The gelding’s victories in the Bold Venture and Vigil Stakes (G3) secured him the Sovereign Award, champion sprinter title.

Teaming up for the first time with fellow Sovereign Award winner Vives, the homegrown gelding won the Pink Lloyd Stakes by six lengths on July 28 to kick off his four-year-old campaign.

Patches O’Houlihan, trained by Robert Tiller, has 8 of 10 successes and earnings of $376,234.

For the fast champion to defend his title, he will have to beat a new, rising competitor in a sprint: Playmea Melody .

Led by trainer Josie Carroll of Chiefswood Stables, the 4-year-old MacLean’s Music The gelding has a 2-2 record with a combined advantage of 16 1/2 lengths.

Entries: S.’s bold undertaking (G3)

Woodbine, Saturday, August 17, 2024, Race 7

• Class III
• 6 1/2f
• A track for any weather
• $150,000
• 3 years and more
• 15:43 (local)