[caption id="attachment_2909" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Divine Wisdom takes the lead in 2013 J.W. Sifton Stakes."][/caption] by George Off 2 Win Stable’s Divine Wisdom probably had to work a little harder than he would have liked to win the $50,000 J.W. Sifton Stakes on Friday night, but he was up to the task when it counted.…
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Janine Smith first female jockey to win $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity in 84 years
[caption id="attachment_2880" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Janine Smith and Zdeno after winning the 2013 Winnipeg Futurity."][/caption] by George Jockey Janine Smith was in the spotlight again on Saturday night at Assiniboia Downs when she became the first female jockey in history to win the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity. Quite an accomplishment for the 24-year-old rider from Denman…
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Nolan moves to 6-win lead in jockey standings, Smith makes Pick-4 pay big
[caption id="attachment_2858" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Janine Smith. All smiles after winning with Prairie Eclipse Friday night."][/caption] by George Paul Nolan scored a hat trick with wins in the first, second and sixth races on Friday night at the Downs, Adrian Ramos won a pair and Janine Smith booted home Prairie Eclipse in the seventh to…
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Rob’s ASD Picks and Wagering Strategies for September 6-7, 2013
by Rob Finally a good weekend here with Bankroll Bob, profit of $852.86 from a wagering total of $250.00. I will look to improve on that success this week on Saturday night. On another note, Balooga Bull ran a very impressive race but probably is a bet against for me in the Gold Cup due…
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Rob’s ASD Picks and Wagering Strategies for August 23-24, 2013
by Rob Week 1 of Bankroll Bob V.2 was a small success, $250 through the windows and a return of $278.15. I thought I had a shot to show a lot more profit but Pelee Island didn’t get up into the top two, Great Cause encountered serious traffic issues to finish sixth and the Pick-4…
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The Osiris Stakes – Fabulous 50 and Counting!
[caption id="attachment_2756" align="alignright" width="270" caption="The original Osiris Juvenile Plate!"][/caption] by Bob So what do an Egyptian God and a horse named Papyrus have to do with our Osiris Stakes? According to Egyptian mythology, “Osiris” is the name given to the god of the afterlife. It is also the name of a racehorse that was…
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Rob’s ASD Picks and Wagering Strategies for August 16-17, 2013
by Rob A few years ago a long-time owner and racegoer Bob King spent a month narrating his picks in a blog. His musings, as wacky and off-beat as they might have been, were sometimes interesting to read. Over the last five weeks of the season that’s what I have set out to do,…
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Cecil James Filby – Extraordinarily Ordinary Man
by Bob Anyone who has been around the Downs for a while has likely heard of Cecil Filby, and as our Manitoba Derby fast approaches some may wonder why I selected him for this week’s remembrance. Was it for his accomplishments in our prestigious Derby? Was it for his life-long achievements at the Downs? No.…
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15 minutes with Smoky Cinder
[caption id="attachment_2536" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Smoky Cinder in 1999."][/caption] Competitive fires still burning in local living legend by Bob Who knew? Downs’ legendary graded stakes-placed and multiple stakes winner Smoky Cinder, a grandson of the mighty Northern Dancer, is alive and well at 20! One night at the track I approached the man who used…
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Merry’s Jay: Lord of Avondale and the Toast of Manitoba
[caption id="attachment_2513" align="alignright" width="270" caption="Merry's Jay wins 1976 Manitoba Derby."][/caption] First Manitoba-bred ever to win the Manitoba Derby by Bob In 1976 Merry’s Jay won the Harry Jeffrey Stakes. Eight days later he became the first Manitoba-bred ever to win our own Manitoba Derby. Only two other horses have won the Harry Jeffrey Stakes…
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