ETOBICOKE, Ontario - San Diego Blowout lived up to his name last Sunday at Woodbine, winning the $134,875 Colin by 7 1/4 lengths.
While the success did not necessarily surprise trainer Abraham Katryan, the manner in which it was accomplished was a bit of an eye-opener.
"I knew he could go in 1:10 and change," said Katryan, after watching San Diego Blowout complete the six furlongs of the Colin in 1:10.47 under jockey Emile Ramsammy. "But it was the way he did it."
San Diego Blowout had been unchallenged here June 28 when he led throughout his 5 1/2-furlong debut, where his margin of victory also was 7 1/4 lengths.
But it didn't seem likely that he would be able to spot a touchdown to his key rival, Gemini Dream, in the Colin. Gemini Dream also possesses a high turn of early foot and seemed to have a tactical advantage as he broke from the outside in the four-horse field.
The Colin seemed to be following that blueprint as Gemini Dream maintained a length lead through an opening quarter with San Diego Blowout stalking on the rail.
"He was inside, where I didn't want him to be," said Katryan. "Then he went to the outside, around that other horse. He showed the ability of rating; when he wants to go, he can go."
San Diego Blowout campaigns for the Kellynack Racing Stable of Glenn Harvey, who has become a major Katryan client with about 12 horses.
A Kentucky-bred, San Diego Blowout had been purchased for $62,000 at the local 2-year-olds in training sale here this spring.
"He'd worked impressively, and caught my eye," said Katryan. "I love speed horses."
Others do, too, and Katryan acknowledges that there had been a couple of serious offers to purchase San Diego Blowout before the stakes.
In the meantime, San Diego Blowout is pointing for Monmouth's Grade 3 Sapling, a $100,000 race over six furlongs Aug. 9.
Tiller gets pleasant surprise
Brass in Pocket added to her burgeoning bankroll when she captured Sunday's supporting feature, the $108,000 Kamar, for owner Frank DiGiulio Jr. and trainer Bob Tiller.
Winning Chance, owned by Stronach Stable, finished fourth as the odds-on choice in the field of seven.
"I'd expected a big race," said Tiller, "but I didn't think she could beat Stronach's horse."
But while Winning Chance struggled after breaking from the rail, Brass in Pocket dueled throughout the seven-furlong Kamar after beginning from the 6-hole, and was a game winner under jockey David Clark and high weight of 124 pounds.
Brass in Pocket had come from just off the pace in her previous sprint tries, at six furlongs and 6 1/2 furlongs, this year.
"She's got natural speed," said Tiller. "And at seven furlongs, there's a long run down the backstretch. She had a good post, and we anticipated she'd be laying closer."
Brass in Pocket was recording her third stakes win of the year and fifth of her career. Her seasonal earnings now stand at $280,800 and her career totals are a record of 8-1-2 from 12 starts and earnings of $579,955.
The filly may have to wait a while before attempting to add to those numbers, however, as no suitable race is on the horizon.
"There's nothing in the near future," said Tiller, "but that's good for her. Once a month is perfect for her."
The stakes win was the fifth of the meeting for Clark and the sixth for Tiller, placing him in a tie atop that category with trainer Mike Keogh.
Nureyev filly joins Gracey's stable
You won't find many sons or daughters of Nureyev on the backstretch here, which makes a recent arrival worth noting.
Vaganova, a Kentucky-bred 3-year-filly by Nureyev out of the Proud Truth mare Stem the Tide, checked into trainer Phil Gracey's barn a couple of weeks ago after being purchased privately by owner Bill Diamant.
A maiden who raced three times in France, Vaganova finished a close fourth in her opener last fall and was third and second in two runs this spring. Her first two tries came over a mile, the latest at nine furlongs.
"She's from a classic black-type family," said Diamant, who paid $200,000 (U.S.) for the filly. "It looks like she'll probably get a mile and an eighth, a mile and a quarter here."
Vaganova, who has been in training in California, turned in her first local drill last Sunday, going four furlongs in 49.60 seconds on the turf training course.
"The turf was a little cut up," said Gracey, who was aboard for the move. "I tried to stay pretty wide."
Winner fails to carry right weight
Puzzle Maker has been disqualified from her first-place finish here in last Wednesday's sixth race after the stewards ruled the filly had carried an incorrect weight.
Barbara Marshall, trainer and co-owner of second-place finisher Decadent Dash, submitted a protest that was upheld by the stewards.
Puzzle Maker, a 4-year-old, raced for a $47,500 claiming price and should have carried 120 pounds but was entered and raced at 116 pounds.
Decadent Dash becomes the official winner with Time to Rush, Amber Jule, Alotta Spirit. and Ali Olah collecting the secondary awards.
Puzzle Maker has been declared unplaced for all purposes except parimutuel wagering.
* Sonofawac, the hometown hopeful for Sunday's $500,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60 here Tuesday morning. Owned by John Franks and trained by Layne Giliforte, Sonofawac will be ridden by Cory Clark, who was aboard when the colt won his maiden at Fort Erie last October.
http://www.drf.com/news/article/48117.html
While the success did not necessarily surprise trainer Abraham Katryan, the manner in which it was accomplished was a bit of an eye-opener.
"I knew he could go in 1:10 and change," said Katryan, after watching San Diego Blowout complete the six furlongs of the Colin in 1:10.47 under jockey Emile Ramsammy. "But it was the way he did it."
San Diego Blowout had been unchallenged here June 28 when he led throughout his 5 1/2-furlong debut, where his margin of victory also was 7 1/4 lengths.
But it didn't seem likely that he would be able to spot a touchdown to his key rival, Gemini Dream, in the Colin. Gemini Dream also possesses a high turn of early foot and seemed to have a tactical advantage as he broke from the outside in the four-horse field.
The Colin seemed to be following that blueprint as Gemini Dream maintained a length lead through an opening quarter with San Diego Blowout stalking on the rail.
"He was inside, where I didn't want him to be," said Katryan. "Then he went to the outside, around that other horse. He showed the ability of rating; when he wants to go, he can go."
San Diego Blowout campaigns for the Kellynack Racing Stable of Glenn Harvey, who has become a major Katryan client with about 12 horses.
A Kentucky-bred, San Diego Blowout had been purchased for $62,000 at the local 2-year-olds in training sale here this spring.
"He'd worked impressively, and caught my eye," said Katryan. "I love speed horses."
Others do, too, and Katryan acknowledges that there had been a couple of serious offers to purchase San Diego Blowout before the stakes.
In the meantime, San Diego Blowout is pointing for Monmouth's Grade 3 Sapling, a $100,000 race over six furlongs Aug. 9.
Tiller gets pleasant surprise
Brass in Pocket added to her burgeoning bankroll when she captured Sunday's supporting feature, the $108,000 Kamar, for owner Frank DiGiulio Jr. and trainer Bob Tiller.
Winning Chance, owned by Stronach Stable, finished fourth as the odds-on choice in the field of seven.
"I'd expected a big race," said Tiller, "but I didn't think she could beat Stronach's horse."
But while Winning Chance struggled after breaking from the rail, Brass in Pocket dueled throughout the seven-furlong Kamar after beginning from the 6-hole, and was a game winner under jockey David Clark and high weight of 124 pounds.
Brass in Pocket had come from just off the pace in her previous sprint tries, at six furlongs and 6 1/2 furlongs, this year.
"She's got natural speed," said Tiller. "And at seven furlongs, there's a long run down the backstretch. She had a good post, and we anticipated she'd be laying closer."
Brass in Pocket was recording her third stakes win of the year and fifth of her career. Her seasonal earnings now stand at $280,800 and her career totals are a record of 8-1-2 from 12 starts and earnings of $579,955.
The filly may have to wait a while before attempting to add to those numbers, however, as no suitable race is on the horizon.
"There's nothing in the near future," said Tiller, "but that's good for her. Once a month is perfect for her."
The stakes win was the fifth of the meeting for Clark and the sixth for Tiller, placing him in a tie atop that category with trainer Mike Keogh.
Nureyev filly joins Gracey's stable
You won't find many sons or daughters of Nureyev on the backstretch here, which makes a recent arrival worth noting.
Vaganova, a Kentucky-bred 3-year-filly by Nureyev out of the Proud Truth mare Stem the Tide, checked into trainer Phil Gracey's barn a couple of weeks ago after being purchased privately by owner Bill Diamant.
A maiden who raced three times in France, Vaganova finished a close fourth in her opener last fall and was third and second in two runs this spring. Her first two tries came over a mile, the latest at nine furlongs.
"She's from a classic black-type family," said Diamant, who paid $200,000 (U.S.) for the filly. "It looks like she'll probably get a mile and an eighth, a mile and a quarter here."
Vaganova, who has been in training in California, turned in her first local drill last Sunday, going four furlongs in 49.60 seconds on the turf training course.
"The turf was a little cut up," said Gracey, who was aboard for the move. "I tried to stay pretty wide."
Winner fails to carry right weight
Puzzle Maker has been disqualified from her first-place finish here in last Wednesday's sixth race after the stewards ruled the filly had carried an incorrect weight.
Barbara Marshall, trainer and co-owner of second-place finisher Decadent Dash, submitted a protest that was upheld by the stewards.
Puzzle Maker, a 4-year-old, raced for a $47,500 claiming price and should have carried 120 pounds but was entered and raced at 116 pounds.
Decadent Dash becomes the official winner with Time to Rush, Amber Jule, Alotta Spirit. and Ali Olah collecting the secondary awards.
Puzzle Maker has been declared unplaced for all purposes except parimutuel wagering.
* Sonofawac, the hometown hopeful for Sunday's $500,000 Prince of Wales at Fort Erie, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60 here Tuesday morning. Owned by John Franks and trained by Layne Giliforte, Sonofawac will be ridden by Cory Clark, who was aboard when the colt won his maiden at Fort Erie last October.
http://www.drf.com/news/article/48117.html
