YOSHIDA TAKES THE WOODWARD STAKESFIRST RUN ON THE DIRT FOR THE TURF STAR

It was forty years ago today when Seattle Slew won the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga, and although today’s winner Yoshida is not in that class, he is obviously still a very useful horse. His come from behind win over the fast finishing Gunnevera stamped him as a serious contender for the Breeders Cup Classic in November, and trainer Bill Mott was pleasantly surprised at the performance of the 7-1 shot who was ridden by Joel Rosario. Owned by Winstar Farm and the China Racing Club, Yoshida defeated a less than stellar field of thoroughbreds in the fourteen horse field for the nine furlong test. There was also a bit of drama in the paddock before the race when Gunnevera, the 3-1 favorite knocked down his former trainer in the paddock. First aid people transported the injured party in a neck brace soon after. The win puts an immediate increase in the stud value of Yoshida who is now a stakes winner on turf and dirt.
On the undercard, the Spinaway for two-year old fillies was supposed to be a coming out party for the Del Mar invader Chasing Yesterday, but she finished off the board behind 16-1 Sippicon Harbor who now gets an automatic berth in the Juvenile Fillies race at the Breeders Cup. It was the first starter ever in the Spinaway for trainer Gary Contessa who had to come from way behind to win going away by a couple of lengths. Hardly surprising for the owners who had seen her win her previous race by 17 lengths.