Gretzky bags top prize at Woodbine's Summer Stakes
Jockey James Doyle (centre) wearing the Queen's silks riding Tactical wins The Windsor Castle Stakes on day two of the Royal Ascot horse racing meet, in Ascot, west of London, on June 17, 2020.
What you need to know:
- Luis Contreras tried to lodge a frivolous objection, but Stewards were oblivious to that, and nothing became of it.
Gretzky The Great (Kazushi Kimura 4-7), owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's, is another stunner who bagged a place in the Breeders' Cup by plumping Woodbine's Summer Stakes in Ontario.
Trained by Mark Casse, Gretzky literally shadowed Ready to Repeat (Luis Contreras 4-1), all along the back stretch, holding a decent gallop. Then the unleashing began. Gretzky mowed down Ready to Repeat by a good 3.4 lengths, living up to his name.
Kazushi was really impressed, finding it exciting that he was such an easy horse to control, especially being only two years old. He is exceptionally wise.
Luis Contreras tried to lodge a frivolous objection, but Stewards were oblivious to that, and nothing became of it.
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Lady Speightspere (Emma Jayne-Wilson 7-1), overcame some starting stalls issues, (rearing up and being fractious), by packing a thorough punch in the Woodbine Natalma Stakes. This is another Breeders' Cup Juvenile Challenge Series. Lady Speightspere was perfect during the race, leading quickly with a mission to polish. Starting actually was just too slow for her ladyship. She wanted to get out and go.
Big Big Plans (Luis Minoz 7-1), and Alda (Steev Bahen 5-2), did everything in their power to reign in the winner, but she was too good for them. Brilliant to watch. Big Big Plans eventually trailed in last, Seasons (Luis Contreras 4-1), nipped third. The mile was covered in 1:34:6/10, for trainer Roger Attfield, owned and bred by Charles Fipke.
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Two Saturday's trotting, Sam-Son Farm's homebred, trained by Gail Cox designed an upset at Woodbine in the Singspiel Stakes with Count Again (Luis Contreras 6-1), wiggling free from Sir Sahib, Say the Word, and, Nakamura.
This time round, Luis Contreras was the subject of an enquiry when Count Again veered inwardly, causing a chain reaction that forced Sir Sahib to alter his pathway. Once again, results were allowed to stand. Count Again went 1.4 miles in 2:00:6/10, which is almost record speed.
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Steve Asmussen, has hit headlines severally in the past decade, but has now become only the second trainer in thoroughbred racing documented data, to win for the 9,000th time.
This happened when Troy Ounce (Stewart Elliot 4-6), delivered at Remington Park, Oklahoma, in a 1,400m dirt track dash. This is so significant, and he intends to make a big deal of it every day from here onwards. Another 446 and he could be the absolute best ever. Dale Bird currently has the edge. Steve debuted at Ruidoso in New Mexico 1986, never looking back.
