Thundering thunders into Grade 3 Grey, Social Code steps up for Grade 3 Mazarine
TORONTO, October 31, 2024 – Rookies share the Grade 3 stakes spotlight Sunday at Woodbine on a card that features the bet365 $135,000 Grey and the $135,000 Mazarine Presented by Ketel One.
A son of Mosler out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Keep Right, Thundering arrives at the Grey, a 1 1/16-mile main track event for 2-year-olds, off a top-shelf score in the seven-furlong Display Stakes on Oct. 13.
Trained by Patrick Dixon for owner and breeder Dastur Racing, the bay, under Eswan Flores, sat off the pace before powering to the lead in upper stretch en route to a 1 ¼-length victory in 1:23.64.
“It seems like the further he goes, the better he gets,” said Dixon. “I think that performance gave us even more confidence that we can stretch him out and test him a little bit more. He seems like he will enjoy going further.
“I was just so excited [watching the stretch drive] and so happy for the owners. And for him to be what we thought he was – that was great. You can always hope they will be what they are showing you in the spring, but to see it come true was quite amazing. It was special to see him hit the lead and then keep going.”
Thundering debuted on Sept. 15 at Woodbine and finished third in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race.
The Maryland-bred sat outside along the backstretch before going four to five wide on the turn and advancing to be six-deep at the top of the lane. Despite drifting in, Thundering secured the show placing, 3 ¼ lengths behind the winner.
“It was very good,” said Dixon. “He had a bad break. He got bumped coming out of the gate and he was a little bit green. It looked like he was trying to find his feet early on and wondering why everyone else was going so fast.
“When he finally found his feet, he had to go wide of everybody, and then he was looking at everyone in the grandstand coming down the lane. It was a lot for him to take in his first race. We were very, very happy with the result.”
As they were with the display in the Display.
“It was great watching that effort, to see him dig in and to see that determination he had. The owners love him. They come and see him all the time, so for them to have him – they don’t have many horses – and to be a homebred, it’s special.”
Dixon is hopeful lightning can strike twice for his burgeoning rookie.
“He came out of the race so well – it seemed like it was morning gallop for him – and he was very happy after it. He’s doing well, he’s eating well, and it seems like he’s enjoying himself.
“We are coming back three weeks after his last race, but he is doing great. It’s a step up and this will be the furthest he has run, but he looks like he’s ready for the challenge.”
Dixon will also be represented by the supplemented Coolcollected.
The stakes-placed (third in the Soaring Free) son of Collected is 1-0-1 from 4 starts for owner Colebrook Farms.
“He’s doing phenomenally well and he’s training well too,” said Dixon, of the horse bred in Kentucky by Brereton Jones. “Ryan [jockey, Munger] was on him for a nice breeze (five-furlongs in 1:01.60) on the main track this Sunday.
“We have always liked this horse, and we are expecting him to run well.”
Paul Wilson is the groom for both Thundering and Coolcollected
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TORONTO, October 31, 2024 – The $135,000 Mazarine Presented by Ketel One, a 1 1/16-mile main track test for 2-year-old fillies, will mark the first stakes test for Social Code.
Trained by multiple graded stakes winner Steve Flint for CamHaven Farms, nom du course of Tony and Shirley Camilleri, the daughter of Constitution out of the Animal Kingdom mare Davida broke her maiden in style on Sept. 28 at Woodbine in a race originally scheduled for the turf.
With Jason Hoyte in the irons, Social Code, at 11-1, was bumped at the start of the 6 ½-furlong sprint but recovered to sit mid-pack in the field of seven through an opening quarter in :23.51. Fifth after a half in :47.61, she lost ground on the turn and was shuffled back before being shifted to the outside to strike front nearing the sixteenth pole.
Social Code edged past the 3-2 choice late and went on to notch a 1 ¼-length win in 1:18.44.
“I thought she made a good account of herself,” said Flint. “The race was going to be on the turf and when it came off, I knew she would tolerate the Tapeta, but she overcame a ton first time out.
“She has a phenomenal turf pedigree. Her mother is a half-sister to (multiple graded stakes winner) Bricks and Mortar. Eventually, her future, I believe, would be on the grass, but we are looking forward to this next race.”
Bred in Kentucky by Chc Inc., Social Code had a series of works over various surfaces at Woodbine, including a five-furlong breeze from the gate, in 1:02.60, on Aug. 31, and a pair of breezes, on Sept. 8 and Sept. 20, on the turf training track.
The filly took to the dirt training track on Oct. 28 for a four-furlong breeze in :49.20.
“She came out of her last race great, and she came out of that last work very well. We’ll have to see how she handles a larger field and tougher company, but we hope she elevates from her first start.
“Obviously, she wants to go further. She is 17.2 hands tall and weighs probably somewhere in the range of 1,300 pounds, so she is very imposing.”
With a personality to match.
“She looks as sweet as pie, but she is one tough customer,” said Flint.
Social Code was a $15,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
“You can see the passion Tony and Shirley have for this sport and for the horses. These people put their heart and soul in the business, and they have a wonderful facility – you couldn’t ask for a better one – just west of Woodbine.
“We have been able to go to the sales over the past two years and make some very nice purchases, this filly included. She is the first horse I bought for them. We bought seven last year and nine this year at the sales, so we are moving in the right direction and hopefully, we can build a race stable of their dreams.”
Kyia Moore is the groom.
Other starters include Presque Isle Debutante Stakes winner Foxtastic, Charlotte’s Heart, runner-up in the Glorious Song Stakes, Ready for Candy, second in the Catch A Glimpse Stakes, and last time out winner Aristella.
First post for the 10-race card is 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.
Field for the Grey (Race 9)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Shifty – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
2 – Faber – Fraser Aebly – Kevin Attard
3 – Tapit Kissit Winit – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
4 – Ready to Battle – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
5 – Dewolf – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
6 – He’s Not Joking – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll
7 – Vamos Carlitos – Vincent Cheminaud – Jonathan Thomas
8 – Coolcollected (S) – Ryan Munger – Patrick Dixon
9 – No Time – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
10 – Thundering – Eswan Flores – Patrick Dixon
Field for the Mazarine (Race 8)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Charlotte’s Heart – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
2 – Social Code – Jason Hoyte – Steve Flint
3 – Salt – Luis Contreras – Kevin Attard
4 – Aristella – Fraser Aebly – Rachel Halden
5 – Foxtastic – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll
6 – Ready for Candy – Jose Campos – Mike De Paulo
7 – Somethinabouther – Declan Cannon – Brendan Walsh
8 – Shifty – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
9 – No Time – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
10 – As Catch Can – Vincent Cheminaud – Jonathan Thomas
11 – Ready to Battle – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
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Chris Lomon, Woodbine
Chris Lomon