| Canada Day At The Races - Northlands | | Print | |
| Written by Jonathan Huntington |
| Wednesday, 01 July 2009 16:30 |
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Casey's On Call a legit Canadian Derby contender... Costly day for Quincy Welch... Shannon Beauregard injured in morning mishap... Omar Moreno wins first Northlands race... Season high handle... 13 nominated to Ky Alta... and more. Casey's On Call has stepped into the spotlight on the road to the Canadian Derby with a win in today's $50,000 Western Canada Handicap in Edmonton. The former Florida Derby starter proved why owner Terry Hamilton spent $75,000 to claim him in February at Gulfstream Park. Today's victory in the three-year-old 6 1/2 furlong stake makes Casey one of the top three local contenders for the Aug. 22 Canadian Derby at Northlands. "I give a lot of credit to the crew," said trainer Riley Rycroft while walking to the winner's circle. "We didn't know a lot about him last time and he probably wasn't 100% last time." At the moment, Rycroft's first choice for Casey's next race is in Winnipeg for the $75,000 Manitoba Derby on Aug. 3. COSTLY BREAK: A sidebar story in today's Western Canada Handicap is Perry Winters getting the last-minute riding assignment on the winner. Quincy Welch was scheduled to ride Casey's On Call until he had to be rushed to the Royal Alex Hospital emergency room before the card started. "He had some type of allergic reaction," said Welch's agent Bob Fowlis. That cost Welch six rides this afternoon, including the stake.
Perry Winters is all smiles while patting Casey's On Call in the winner's circle today. (J. Huntington photo) With Casey's win in the Western Canada, Winters has the riding assignment going forward. "Perry stays on him," stated Rycroft. Winters gave the bay colt a stalking trip in the opening quarter before practically flying around the leaders in a four-wide move along the backstretch to the take the lead. "I just tapped him and he took off," said Winters. Click here to watch today's Western Canada Handicap. BACKSTRETCH BANTER: Island Drums wasn't a factor in today's Western Canada Handicap. "Is he just not that caliber or does he need more ground?" commented trainer Robertino Diodoro after the race... Pop Artist (3-5 odds) ran a solid second to Casey's On Call... For the second time this meet, jockey Shannon Beauregard is on the shelf after a morning training mishap. This time a horse threw her into a cement wall in the stable area, leaving her with an apparent sprained knee. She missed today's card. There are rumblings she might miss a couple of days. Most importantly, she is scheduled to ride Zuri Mwana in Saturday's Spangled Jimmy Handicap... Rider Omar Moreno captured his first ever Northlands Park victory in today's sixth race on Gorgeous Gabrysia. "It felt amazing," said Moreno, a graduate of the gallop school at Olds College. "I felt I had the world in the palm of my hand."
Omar Moreno heading to the wire today with his first Northlands Park victory in his young career. (Ryan Haynes photo) FINISH LINES: Three Vancouver runners (Pop Artist, Almost Time and Slickster) are among 13 nominated to the Ky Alta Handicap for July 11. Robo Willie - the winner of the President's Stake on June 6 in Edmonton - is nominated... Hooked on the lead for most of the Vancouver Sun Handicap at Hastings Park today, Tanika ran second to Holy Nova... El Cugat (owner Glen Todd and Patrick Kinsella) was the impressive winner of the Chris Loseth Handicap in Vancouver this afternoon, proving he's a name to watch on the road to the Canadian Derby... A 2009 high handle of $392,258 was wagered on the Northlands Park card today. That marks an $86,000 increase from last year's Canada Day handle.(Main page photo: Casey's On Call winning the Western Canada. Photo credit: J. Huntington.) -copyright thehorses.com
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| Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 July 2009 18:32 |
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