From dusk ‘til dawn

Kevin Attard won the Friday nightcap with Mo Tourist and then won the Saturday opener with Hayek (his other trainee, Destiny Ro, was second). The multiple graded stakes-winning trainer, who is closing in on 750 career victories, has eclipsed the $3.2 million (U.S.) mark in purse earnings the past five campaigns.

Master class

Master Aragorn, under Rafael Hernandez, had an impressive start to her career on Saturday. Bred and owned by Ivan Dalos (Tall Oaks Farm), the 2-year-old daughter of Master-Aragorn Ami notched a 1 ¼-length score in the 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race. The chestnut paid $12.70 for the win.

Rhyme time

Rapper Zapper, bred (Adena Springs) and owned by Stronach Stables, rallied to win Sunday’s first race, at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta, as the even-money choice. The 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper-Holy Grace, trained by Mike Doyle, is now 2-2-4 from 15 career starts.

Staking his claim

Trainer Patrick Dixon earned the first stakes win of his career on Sunday when Perfect Crime, with Kazushi Kimura in the irons, stormed home to take the $100,000 Overskate. Owned by Colebrook Farms, the 5-year-old son of Old Forester notched a 1 ¼-length victory in the 7 ½-furlong race over the inner turf. It was the first victory for Perfect Crime since a 6 ½-furlong Tapeta race triumph on October 28, 2022.

Worth hearing

“He’d been training fantastic after his last race, and I thought he would run a really big race today. I was really excited for him to run. All credit to John Brnjas and the whole Colebrook family for sticking with me as a trainer and everything that we’ve been through.”

– Patrick Dixon, after Perfect Crime won the Overskate Stakes.

Worth watching

Watch one of the most compelling finishes of the 2023 Woodbine Thoroughbred campaign as Breathing Fire and Fashionably Fab fight to the finish in Sunday’s $100,000 Eternal Search Stakes.

Worth knowing

A pair of $100,000 Ontario Sired Stakes, the South Ocean, for 2-year-old fillies, and Frost King, for 2-year-olds, are set for Saturday. Both will be contested at 6 ½ furlongs over the Tapeta.

https://woodbine.com/stakes-schedule/

Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms 

The post Weekend Notables & Quotables (October 21-22) appeared first on Woodbine Racetrack.