Latest news with #WoodbineOaks
Toronto Sun
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
No Time leads Casse parade in Woodbine Oaks
Jockey John Velazuez guides No Time to victory in the 70th running of $500,000 Woodbine Oaks presented by Stella Artois at Woodbine on July 20, 2025. No Time is owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse. Photo by Michael Burns / Woodbine Entertainment No Time had a good time at the Woodbine Oaks on Sunday. Could she have an even better time when Canada's biggest horse race rolls around? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The three-year-old filly was sharp in victory in the $500,000 Oaks, spearheading a 1-2-3 finish for trainer Mark Casse and placing herself squarely in the field for the King's Plate on Aug. 16. Ridden by John Velazquez, No Time raced close to the early pace in the 1 1/8-mile race, tracking on the outside while stablemate Winterberry had command. Approaching the stretch, No Time was three wide but had found the gear she needed to take command early in the stretch and draw off at odds of 6-1. Winterberry was third while Casse's most-fancied runner, 2-1 favourite Shifty, ended second. 'We knew there was going to be a lot of pace in the race so I wanted to see how it would develop,' Velazquez said. 'By the time we got to the half-mile pole, I just kept it nice and easy. I didn't want to make a premature move.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'The quarter-pole came and she found another gear.' A daughter of Not This Time, No Time broke her maiden last September and opened her 2025 season with a win before finishing fourth in the Selene Stakes. The energy she had after the race proved to his hall-of-fame rider that the 1 1/4 miles of the Plate should be to her liking. 'She galloped out very nicely,' Velazquez said. 'If she can do that again and she can relax in the early part of the race, she has a very good chance.' The Plate gained another new contender one race earlier when Sedbury's Ghost emerged from a bunched pack to win the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes. Ridden by Ryan Munger, Sedbury's Ghost was smartly taken near the back of the 10-horse field with a scorching pace up front. The pack closed up around the turn and Munger took his runner to the outside where he was able to get the lead in mid-stretch at odds of 7-1. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trained by Barbara Minshall, Sedbury's Ghost broke his maiden in his second attempt last year and started this season with a win before finishing fourth in the Marine Stakes. 'He had a bit of a troubled trip in the Marine. I thought he could have won that,' Minshall said. Second-place finisher Notorious Gangster, who won the Queenston Stakes earlier in the year, is also expected to go to the Plate along with third-place runner Scorching. Others pointed to the August 16 Plate are Marine Stakes winner Mansetti and U.S.-based runner Tom's Magic. Two other stakes were run Sunday. In the $200,000 Canadian Stakes, Ready for Shirl made a strong late charge to nail favourite Gimme a Nother and post a 6-1 upset. The win gave jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson a high point in an otherwise tough year. The veteran rider recovered from a late-season injury during the winter to make it back to the races in June. She's had a couple of small mishaps since but she was at her best Sunday. 'It's fun to be back in the tack. It's fun to be back in the winner's circle. It's fun to be here,' Wilson said. It was the fourth career win in 12 starts for Ready for Shirl, a Roger Attfield trainee. And in the $175,000 Connaught Cup, 9-1 shot Cruden Bay overtook heavily favoured Kehoe Beach in mid-stretch for a decisive score and a repeat of the stake he won a year ago. Fraser Aebly rode the seven-year-old gelding for trainer Don MacRae. It was Cruden Bay's eighth career score in 24 starts. Editorial Cartoons Toronto & GTA Football Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA
Winnipeg Free Press
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
No Time earns Hall of Fame trainer Casse record-tying fifth Woodbine Oaks victory
TORONTO – No Time earned trainer Mark Casse a record-tying fifth win in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on Sunday afternoon. Standing fourth at the three-quarter mile mark, No Time, with John Velazquez aboard, rode to a comfortable 3 3/4-length victory ahead of Casse stablemates Shifty and Winterberry. Casse tied Jim Day's record for most Oaks wins. Casse, Canada's top trainer an unprecedented 16 times, had five entries in the 12-horse field Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack. No Time also served notice that she could be a strong contender for the $1-million King's Plate next month. She finished the 1 1/8-mile Oaks on Woodbine's Tapeta course in one minute 50.14 seconds. Earlier on Sunday, Sedburys Ghost captured the $150,000 Plate Trial, also over a mile and an eighth on Tapeta, in 1:50.37. Ryan Munger rallied Sedburys Ghost down the stretch for the 1 1/4-length win. Sedburys Ghost, at 7-1 odds, came on strong to overtake leader Scorching for the victory. Notorious Gangster, the 9-5 favourite, finished second while Scorching, also a 9-5 pick, held on for third in the field reduced to nine after Regal Guest scratched. The King's Plate is slated for Woodbine on Aug. 16. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 20, 2025.
UPI
18-07-2025
- Sport
- UPI
Horse racing's heavyweight Journalism back in weekend action
1 of 3 | Journalism (R) is entered in Saturday's $1 million Grade I Haskell at Monmouth, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic, File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo July 18 (UPI) -- Top 3-year-olds return to action in weekend racing with the Grade I Haskell at Monmouth Park and fillies on parade in the Group 1 Irish Oaks, Group 1 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga and the Woodbine Oaks in Canada. Del Mar swings into action, providing graded stakes action on both coasts on turf and dirt at a wide variety of distances. In short, a racing fan's dream, a handicapper's challenge and a bettor's opportunity. We'd "bettor" get on with it. The 3-year-olds Saturday's $1 million Grade I Haskell at Monmouth is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic, but should odds-on favorite Journalism win the 1 1/8-mile heat, that would be irrelevant. The Curlin colt is pretty much welcome at the big dance already after winning the Santa Anita Derby and Preakness and finishing second to Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. The other seven, though, could need a free pass to get into the Classic, and the most likely of them would seem to be Gosger. The Nyquist colt won the Grade III Lexington at the Keeneland spring meeting, skipped the Derby and finished second in Preakness in the dramatic finish that saw Journalism wipe out a 4-length lead in well under a furlong. The other six in the Haskell field aren't bums. But they're not Journalism, either. Sunday's $150,000 (Canadian) Plate Trial at Woodbine is the local prep for the King's Plate and is similarly restricted to Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. The Oaks Crowd Saturday's $500,000 Grade I Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga has a field modest in size with six entries, but large in talent. Immersive, the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Eclipse Award winner, was undefeated at 2 but finished second in the Monomoy Girl Stakes at Churchill Downs in her 2025 debut in June. Take Charge Milady, the Monomoy Girl winner, tries for a repeat. La Cara won the Grade I Ashland at Keeneland and Grade I Acorn at Saratoga. Sunday's $500,000 (Canadian) Woodbine Oaks is restricted to Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, but the limitation hasn't prevented some of the contestants from going on to graded glory, including 2022 winner Moira. Twelve are set for this seemingly wide-open edition, including five to be saddled by the Mark Casse team. Casse already has four Oaks wins to his credit. Coincidentally, he got his 4,000th North American training win Thursday at Colonial Downs in Virginia. Distaff There's a lot of talent scattered around the nine entries for Saturday's $500,000 Grade III Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park. The eye goes to Dorth Vader, last-race winner of the Grade I Ogden Phipps in the slop at Saratoga, and Majestic Oops, who steps up on the heels of three straight wins. Step right up, pick a long shot and win a top-shelf prize in this one. Sprint Saturday's $400,000 Grade II Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga attracted some of the world's top dirt sprinters. Book'em Danno and Mullikin exit a 1-2 finish in the Grade III True North. Nash, Baby Yoda and Full Moon Madness have been improving steadily. Nakatomi and Skelly return after filling the exacta spots in this race a year ago. Friday's $100,000 Jersey Shore for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park has a field of six. Filly & Mare Sprint Scylla is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a field of nine for Sunday's $200,000 Grade II Honorable Miss at Saratoga. The 5-year-old Tapit mare hasn't won for more than a year, but has been competitive in top company. She was second in the Grade II Bed o' Roses Stakes in her last. Turf Saturday's $600,000 Grade II United Nations at Monmouth Park features the 1-2-3 finishers from last year's running -- Get Smokin, Grand Sonata and Tawny Port. Among the others, Redistricting, Rebel Red, Limited Liability and Vote No look capable of putting on a good show. Filly & Mare Turf Seven are set for Saturday's $300,000 Grade III WinStar Matchmaker at Monmouth Park and a case can be made for most of them. Saturday's $200,000 Grade II San Clemente Handicap at Del Mar is a lively looking heat with nine 3-year-old fillies set to mix it up. South African import Gimme a Nother looks to bounce back from a bad day in her last start while contesting Sunday's $200,000 (Canadian) Grade II Canadian Stakes at Woodbine. The Gimmethegreenlight mare finished second twice in graded stakes for trainer Graham Motion before reporting seventh in the Grade I New York Stakes at the Spa last month. Turf Mile Del Mar's traditional opener, the Oceanside Stakes, is a restricted 1 mile on the grass for 3-year-olds. Saturday's $100,000 Wickerr Stakes for 3-year-olds and up also has restrictions. Both bear watching, especially in a year when the Breeders' Cup World Championships return to Del Mar. Turf Sprint Isivunguvungu was on a bit of a roll in the United States after his import from South Africa, but then hit the wall when sent in April to Dubai, where he reported 10th in the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint. He's back for Saturday's $100,000 Wolf Hill at Monmouth Park. Saturday's $175,000 Grade III Caress for fillies and mares at Saratoga has the top five finishers from last month's Grade II Intercontinental over the course -- Pipsy, Future Is Now, Kairyu, Time to Dazzle and Pandora's Gift. A 4-year-old filly named Caress is a "main track only" entry. Sunday's $175,000 (Canadian) Grade II bet365 Connaught Cup at Woodbine has a field of 10 to go 7 furlongs. Around the world, around the clock Ireland Coolmore and trainer Aidan O'Brien send out four of the seven confirmed runners for Saturday's Group 1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks at the Curragh. Among them is the prohibitive favorite, Epsom Oaks winner Minnie Hauk, not surprisingly jockey Ryan Moore's choice to ride. The Frankel filly has won three of four starts, including the Cheshire Oaks in her 3-year-old debut. Her only loss was a second in her career bow, when Wemighttakedlongway got the jump on a big field, set an easy pace and held on late. Wemighttakedlongway, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, was fourth at Epsom and fourth again in the Pretty Polly over the Curragh sod June 28. Al Riffa and Shackleton figure in a nine-horse field for the Group 2 Michael John Kennedy Curragh Cup at 1 3/4 miles. Al Riffa, a 5-year-old by Wootton Bassett, was second to Rebel's Romance in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting in his most recent start. Shackleton gets a different test after he reported eighth in the Irish Derby in his last outing. It's another family feud as Joseph Patrick O'Brien handles Al Riffa and dad Aidan trains Shackleton. Only four were left in for the Gain Railway Stakes for 2-year-olds with the elder O'Brien in charge of the solid antepost favorite, True Love. The No Nay Never filly got her first win in her third start, the Group 2 Queen Mary at Royal Ascot, vanquishing 22 rivals in that one.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mark Casse-Trained Quintet Seek Classic Glory In Woodbine Oaks
Mark Casse-Trained Quintet Seek Classic Glory In Woodbine Oaks originally appeared on Paulick Report. Twelve fillies, including five Mark Casse trainees, will vie for top prize in the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois, one of four stakes on Sunday's 10-race card at Woodbine. Inaugurated in 1956, the filly classic, for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies carrying 121 pounds over 1 ⅛ miles on the main track, will go postward at 5:20 p.m. ET, and will be broadcast live, along with the Plate Trial, on Sportsnet One from 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET. The winning connections will receive $300,000. Sunday's card also features the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes, a key race ahead of The King's Plate (Aug. 16), the $200,000 Canadian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T), and the $175,000 bet365 Connaught Cup (G2T).Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will send out the quintet of Ella It Is, No Time, Shifty, War Signal, and It Is, 2-2-0 from eight starts ($86,298 in purse earnings), will make her fifth career stakes appearance when she goes postward on Sunday. The daughter of Point of Entry out of the Silent Name (JPN) mare Our Ella finished second in both the Victorian Queen and South Ocean last year, and was seventh, albeit just 3 ½ lengths behind the winner, in the 2024 running of the Princess Elizabeth It Is debuted last July and finished seventh but rebounded with a smart two-length score in a 6 ½-furlong main track race, also at the Toronto oval, that was originally scheduled for the bay, who notched a sharp 3 ¾-length win at 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine main track on June 1, heads into the Oaks off a seventh in the Selene Stakes (G3) on June 28.'She has shown she can run well,' said Casse. 'She has to step up her game now. This will be a test for her. She is really only one of my fillies in this race who can settle.'René and Darlene Hunderup (Heste Sport Inc.) bred and own Ella It Is. Working out of their home base, Norse Ridge Farms, in King, Ontario, northeast of Woodbine, the couple has enjoyed great success over the years as breeders and owners of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Parris is the groom. No Time, a daughter of Not This Time out of the Red Ransom mare Count to Three, arrives at the Oaks off a fourth in the Selene (G3).One race prior, on June 1 at Woodbine, the dark bay ran unfettered on the lead as the 5-2 choice in a 1 1/16-mile main track race and crossed the wire four lengths clear of her nearest rival in 1:44.24.'I think No Time is a sleeper,' said Casse, of the filly who has amassed $105,473 in purse earnings. 'I think she has a very good pedigree – both her and Shifty have very nice pedigrees. She is not easy to ride. She is another one that if she is happy, she is going to be tough. Johnny Velazquez is going to ride her for us.'Steadied sharply in her career bow last August when she was eighth, No Time won next time out in a 1 1/16-mile turf race on September brings a record of 2-0-1 from seven starts into her fourth stakes (fourth, elevated to third, in the Cup & Saucer, eighth in the Mazarine (G3), both last year) by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt, and Arika Everatt-Meeuse, No Time was a $250,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Parris is the groom. Shifty, owned by D.J. Stable LLC, debuted on the E.P. Taylor on July 4, 2024, and showed late energy to finish fifth in a field of seven after breaking seven career starts, she sports a 2-0-2 mark ($152,037 in purse earnings), highlighted by an impressive 3 ¼-length win in the 2024 Catch A Glimpse Stakes. Sent off at 11-1, the bay filly drew off with authority to secure her first stakes winning her 3-year-old debut on May 11, Shifty was third in the seven-furlong Fury Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada, on June 7.'Shifty is probably the most talented [of the group],' said Casse. 'She has her quirks. If she can settle and get into a good rhythm, she will be tough. She's very talented.'By Medaglia d'Oro out of the Elusive Quality mare Elusive Luci, Shifty was bred by Anderson Farm Ontario Inc. and sold for $350,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky sale. Bred and owned by Gary Barber, War Signal is 2-0-1 from six starts, accompanied by $98,527 in purse earnings. Fourth in her debut last May, she finished third in the Shady Well Stakes on November broke her maiden in her third start, a dominant 4 ¼-length victory at one mile and 70 yards over the Woodbine main track on December Signal made it two straight winner's circle trips when she posted a 2 ¼-length victory in her 3-year-old debut. Sent on her way as the 6-5 choice, she covered 1 mile and 70 yards over the Gulfstream all-weather surface in 1: bay was seventh in the seven-furlong Ruling Angel Stakes on May 1 at Woodbine and sixth, just two lengths behind the winner Mansetti, when she took on the boys in the 1 1/16-mile Marine Stakes (G3) on June 28.'She ran well in the Marine,' said Casse. 'It was against colts, and I thought she hung in there. She is a horse who I would have said this winter was our best chance to win the Oaks. She disappointed me a little bit in the Ruling Angel, but her race in the Marine was pretty good. She is another one who likes to be up close to the lead.' After a fifth in the Star Shoot Stakes on April 26 to start her sophomore season, Winterberry was back on the winning track courtesy of a strong showing in the had a winning debut last August, a 5 ½-length victory at 6 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine main track. Next time out, she was sixth in the G1 Summer, at 1 mile on the E.P. Taylor dark bay rebounded with a three-quarter length score in the seven-furlong Glorious Song Stakes on October 13 and closed out her rookie campaign with a fifth in the six-furlong Shady Well Stakes on November a daughter of Frosted out of the Bellamy Road mare Dreams Are Free, brings a record of 3-0-0 from six starts into the Oaks.'She is interesting in that we thought all along that she was a sprinter,' said Casse, of the filly with $168,030 in purse earnings. 'But she has really matured. She was scratched twice before she ever ran because of her antics. I talked to Patrick (jockey, Husbands) the other day after he worked her, and he told me that she is a different horse. I know that he is excited about her running.'Winterberry may keep going. She is coming into the Oaks better than ever. I am still not 100 percent sure she can get the mile and an eighth, but she is very talented.'Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc., Winterberry was a $210,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling 'Billy' Forde is the groom. Casse has won the Oaks on four occasions, one shy of the record held by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Jim Day.'With all our fillies, the question is the mile and an eighth,' said Casse, whose latest victory in the race came in 2023 with Elysian Field. 'It's going to be how they settle early. If any of them settle, they are going to run well – they are going to be tough.'Every rider is going to do their own thing. I am not giving any instructions. I think the break is going to be very important, and how each rider can get their horse to settle going into the first turn.'Aristella, last year's Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner, stakes placed Crystal Visions, maiden D'aurum, Innisfree Isle, who broke her maiden last time out, multiple stakes placed Nata Trouble, R Canadian Apple, third in her debut, and Reveler's Row, a first-time out winner, round out the field. The Woodbine Oaks is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, which continues at the Toronto oval with the 1 1/16-mile, $250,000 Bison City Stakes on August 9 and concludes with the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes at 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine inner turf on September 6. First post for Sunday is 1:05 p.m. The wagering menu for the Woodbine Oaks includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, and $1 Swinger. Fans can wager on all the action through and There will be free Woodbine Oaks programs for the first 500 guests on Sunday (one per person). War Signal – Sofia Vives – Mark Casse Nata Trouble – David Moran – Willie Armata Ella It Is – Jose Campos – Mark Casse Innisfree Isle – Fraser Aebly – Catherine Day Phillips Shifty – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse R Canadian Apple – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mike De Paulo Reveler's Row – Pietro Moran – Katerina Vassilieva No Time – John Velazquez – Mark Casse Crystal Visions – Ryan Munger – Stuart Simon Aristella – Rafael Hernandez – Rachel Halden Winterberry – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse D'aurum – Daisuke Fukumoto – Kevin Attard This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'She Put Me On The Map': Groom Troy Garnett Thanks King's Plate Winner Caitlinhergrtness
Once a week, from January to April, Woodbine will profile a horse who had a life-changing impact on one of their closest connections in week, groom Troy Garnett and 2024 King's Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness, who is also a finalist for the 2024 Champion Three-Year-Old Female Sovereign born and raised in Barbados, came to the barn of trainer Kevin Attard in March 2009.'One day, I found myself walking through Kevin's barn. A person, who is also from Barbados, was working there and told me that Kevin was looking for a hotwalker. It just seemed like it was a good fit. And it was. I have been working for Kevin since that day.'Attard is grateful to have Garnett along for the ride.'Troy truly loves the horses. He is one of the most hard-working and dedicated horse people in our industry. He comes into the barn with a smile on his face every day. We are lucky to have him on our team.' Foaled: April 22, 2021Sire: Omaha BeachDam: BelatrixPurchased: Current owners bought her for $375,000 from the Off the Hook consignment at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in TrainingStarts: 9Wins-Seconds-Thirds: 3-1-2Earnings: $693,812 (U.S.)Notable races: Won the King's Plate in 2024. Second in last year's Woodbine Oaks. Third in last year's Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland. Broke her maiden at Belmont on September 28, 2023. Trainer: Kevin AttardOwner: Siena Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLCGroom: Troy GarnettBreeder: Jesse Korona What do you remember from the first time you met Caitlinhergrtness?'I am the person who took her off the trailer when she first came to the barn. It was early morning, and I walked her into the stall, took off her bandages, got her settled and made sure she was okay. It was the size that I noticed. She looked great for a young filly. Then I looked at her breeding and I thought, 'This is a nice horse.'''I loved her from day one, even before I did research on her. She looked amazing. And she was nice to work with right from the start. She allowed me to work with her and I think that was a big plus. Never one day did she rebel.'After four races in the U.S., she had her first start (a win) at Woodbine on July 6, 2024. What did you think of her performance?'She was working so well, and she worked like a very good horse. She was doing it rather easily, too. That is what stood out for me. I felt like she was going to be very tough in that first race at Woodbine.' What do you remember most about the King's Plate?'For a horse who had a big shot of winning the Plate, I was very relaxed. She made it easy on me to feel that way. Knowing her capabilities, she made my morning easy. She was like a champion going over. She meant business, she was relaxed, she wasn't getting too hot – when the saddle went on, she knew it was game time. Things can go wrong in the race, but the day seemed perfect.''Even before she came around the turn, I felt everything was setting up perfectly for her. I know she loves to chase a target, so when she got up to a length or so of the lead, I felt she had it. I could see by the way she was getting to the horse coming around the turn and that she was digging in. She was training that way in the mornings, so that she would run that type of race.''I was so happy. I had a couple of shots at the Plate before – one horse finished sixth and another horse got scratched a day or two before the race – so it kind of felt Caitlinhergrtness was the one who was going to give me that win. I started shaking in mid-stretch because I knew she had it. What a fantastic feeling. All the hard work that goes into winning that race – I felt like Lady Luck was on my side.''When she came back to the winner's circle, I told her, 'Thank you.' I kissed her and patted her. I told her that I loved her and that she put me on the map.' What are the three best words to Caitlinhergrtness?'Classy. Welcoming. Determined.'How has she changed your life?'She has changed my life in a big way. Being in the game a long time, she propelled me to new heights. Whenever people see the board with the list of Plate winners, her name will be on there forever. She has given me so much and I truly love her.'
