Off and Racing: Woodbine launches 2023 campaign
TORONTO, April 22, 2023 – Silver Tunes and apprentice jockey Amanda Vandermeersch captured the first race of the 2023 Woodbine Thoroughbred season on Saturday afternoon.
The 133-race date meet launched under rainy conditions for opening day with a nine-race card contested.
The six-year-old mare Silver Tunes picked up her first win of the season and third in 38 career starts to begin the meet. Vandermeersch got the mount for trainer Barrington Siddo and owner Radcliffe Racing Stable, delivering the score at odds of 8/1.
"It's a great feeling any time you win and it's special to win the first race of the season,” said Vandermeersch. “My horse [Silver Tunes], I knew she would break well, and she just kept on going. It was a big effort."
Fresh off adding another Sovereign Award trophy to his collection, top jockey Kazushi Kimura led all riders with a pair of winners. Kimura topped the jockey standings last season with 152 wins.
Trainer Bill Tharrenos posted a double, sending out four-year-old gelding Allen Diggs (Race 7) and three-year-old filly Too Much Vino (Race 9) to victory. Tharrenos posted 23 wins during the 2022 meet.
Live racing continues Sunday afternoon at Woodbine with an eight-race card scheduled. Post time is 1:10 p.m.
For the latest racing schedule, live video, wagering tools and news, visit Woodbine.com or follow @WoodbineTB and @WoodbineComms on Twitter.
