by Jeff Renton, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — Anyone who has ever met longtime trainer John Burns knows one thing is for certain: he always speaks his mind and lets you know exactly how he feels about things.

And although Burns’ two-horse entry is currently rated at even money for Thursday evening’s (Feb. 1) opening leg division of the Miss Vera Bars Pacing Series, the conditioner isn’t sold that his pair are the best in the seven horse field.

“The way they were racing a couple of weeks ago, they really didn’t look like they would attract much attention coming into this series,” Burns said of Hazel May and Bouncing Hanover. “I don’t think that either of them are quite stellar. They’re what I would call a nice pair of fillies and whatever happens, happens. We shall see.”

The C$17,000 Miss Vera Bars opener has been carded as the first race (7:40 p.m.) on Thursday night’s card and the second leg will be contested on February 8. The C$44,800 (estimated) final is scheduled for February 15.

“Bouncing Hanover has a lot of pedigree,” Burns said about the Cam’s Card Shark filly, who he owns along with Ontario residents Peter Leung and Peter Berry. “She’s out of a Beach Towel mare that’s out of a good family.

WEG Photo

Hazel May was a 1:55.1 winner in her most recent outing.

“Hazel May is an Island Fantasy, and he’s had a good go the last couple of years.”

Owned by Burns and fellow Mississauga resident Harry Pope, Hazel May is coming into the series on a good note, having tallied a three length victory in 1:55.1 on January 22 at Woodbine.

Bouncing Hanover is much the same, as she is riding a two-race winning streak at the Toronto oval heading into her Thursday tilt.

Still, Burns is sticking to his guns.

“‘Hazel’ beat a weak field last time out and ‘Bouncy’ won her last two, but I think it’s safe to say that (driver Mark MacDonald) gave them some good trips,” said Burns.

“To be quite honest, I’m not overly excited about them just yet. They’ve yet to beat anyone who I think is Princess Pacing Series material or anyone like that. They’re good gaited and good mannered, but I won’t know for a couple of months how far they might go.”

The Miss Vera Bars was open to 3-year-old fillies who were non-winners of three races or C$30,000 in lifetime earnings as of October 31, 2006.

The field for the opening leg of the Miss Vera Bars is listed below.

Head # – Horse – Post Position – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds
1 – Bouncing Hanover – pp3 – Ma. MacDonald – J. Burns – 1-1
1A – Hazel May – pp7 – C. Christoforou – J. Burns – 1-1
2 – Smilefortheofficer – pp1 – J. Jamieson – C. Jamieson – 9-2
3 – The Panductor – pp2 – P. MacDonell – D. McGinnis – 4-1
4 – Katie Oquinn – pp4 – L. Ouellette – W. Elliott – 4-1
5 – Admired Beauty – pp5 – Ra. Waples – J. Ainsworth – 9-2
6 – Simply Mavelous – pp6 – R. Zeron – W. Preszcator – 3-1

Note: Katie Oquinn will be racing from the Retention Barn.

No Taboo hoping to make it four in a row at Woodbine

No Taboo is returning to Woodbine with a new attitude.

The 3-year-old son of Astreos started his freshman campaign late last season at the Toronto oval before moving to Flamboro Downs to face lesser competition.

Trained and driven by Roger Mayotte, No Taboo has won convincingly in his last three starts at the Dundas, Ontario half-miler, but the gelding will be jumping back up to face tougher competition on Friday, February 2, when he returns to Woodbine to contest the opening leg of The Count B Pacing Series.

Two C$17,000 divisions (Race 2, 8:00 p.m. and Race 6, 9:20 p.m.) have been drawn for the opening round and the second leg is scheduled for February 9. The C$48,200 (estimated) final is slated for February 16.

“He was a little on the small side and a little immature, that’s why he started his career late, but he’s always shown ability and that he was a good-gaited horse,” said Mayotte, who conditions the bay for owners Venture 2000 Stable, Rockymosa Stables and Larry Curtis. “In his first three starts I raced him at Woodbine and he went in (1):55 and change each time. He was 2 and in against 3-year-olds and they were going in about (1):53. He was pacing his miles comfortably, but he just couldn’t beat those types at that early point in his development.”

Looking to switch things up with No Taboo, Mayotte would go on to enter the gelding in three races at Flamboro. The result: three wire-to-wire performances and a fresh attitude.

“I took him to Flamboro just to have him beat somebody and not have to overuse him in doing so,” said Mayotte. “I hope that putting him in there against some lighter horses has set him up well for this series and hopefully the Apaches Fame (Series) as well.

“He can accelerate pretty fast and he has quick feet when you ask him. If he follows a helmet he can actually snap off it pretty well. He can leave the gate, too. Right now it all comes down to whether he can carry everything on the big track.”

The Count B Series was open to 3-year-old colts and geldings who were non-winners of three races or C$30,000 in lifetime earnings as of October 31, 2006.

The complete fields for the opening round are listed below.

Division #1
Post Position – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – Pan Cushion – M. Baillargeon – B. Baillargeon
2 – Northern Brut – M. Saftic – R. McNair
3 – Keystone Waylon – Ra. Waples – J. Kopas
4 – Heaven Touched – J. Jamieson – D. Marfisi
5 – Leutenant General – Ma. MacDonald – L. Eftimiadis
6 – Uncle Cracker Jac – R. Zeron – J. Miller
7 – Ill Be Seeing You – J. Jamieson – B. Burgess

Division #2
Post Position – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – Windham Hanover – L. Ouellette – K. McMaster
2 – Zambuca Gass – R. Gassien – R. Gassien
3 – Ciroc – J. Jamieson – B. Burgess
4 – No Taboo – R. Mayotte – R. Mayotte
5 – Hes A Lion – L. MacArthur – L. MacArthur
6 – Morethan I Deserve – J. Jamieson – L. Grummel
7 – Alte Kakker – Ra. Waples – D. Tyrrell

C$50,000 guaranteed Pick 7 payout at Woodbine on Thursday

There will be a C$50,000 guaranteed payout for Thursday evening’s Pick 7 wager from Woodbine.

After Sunny Supreme scored at odds of 30-1 in Woodbine’s ninth race on Monday evening, the tote board revealed that selecting six of the seven winning horses in the Pick 7 wager returned $1,135.80 and the carryover would be $40,285 heading into the Thursday night (Feb. 1) program.

In the Pick 7, bettors must correctly select the winners of Races 3 through 9. If there are no winning tickets, 25% of the net pool is paid out to the ticket holder(s) with the most correct winners, and the balance is carried over to begin the next day’s races.

The all-time highest Pick 7 payout at WEG came at Woodbine on December 10, 2004, when a lucky handicapper took the entire $1,017,163.50 pool.