Wigmore Hall Repeats in the Northern Dancer Stakes

Last year, Wigmore Hall shipped to the United States from Europe to contest a pair of prestigious grade I races in North American -- the Arlington Million and the Northern Dancer Stakes. While he could only manage a fourth-place finish in the first-mentioned race, he rebounded in good fashion to win the Northern Dancer by a neck. This year, Wigmore Hall's American campaign has been very similar -- following up a seventh-place finish in the Arlington Million with a repeat victory in the Northern Dancer, once again winning by a neck.

With jockey Jamie Spencer aboard, Wigmore Hall did not get off to a very good start, coming out of the gate a step slowly before settling into the seventh position early on. In the meantime, Irish Mission and Celtic Conviction exchange the lead through slow fractions of :24.85, :50.15, and 1:14.83 seconds. Scalo, Ojibway Signal, and Al Khali were racing in mid-pack, followed by Musketier, Wigmore Hall, and Forte Dei Marmi.

Rounding the far turn, Irish Mission made a bold run to take command and passed the quarter pole with a one-length lead. But Al Khali and Wigmore Hall were charging as a pair on the outside, and the pair soon over the top spots while dueling with each other for the victory. Passing the eighth pole it was Al Khali on top by a head, but Wigmore Hall was able to wear him down late to win the race in gritty fashion, stopping the clock for the twelve furlongs on turf in 2:28.28.

Forte Dei Marmi put in a good late run to finish third, followed by Scalo, Irish Mission, Musketier, Ojibway Signal, and Celtic Conviction.

The winner is a gelded son of High Chaparral out of the Theatrical mare Love And Laughter. Trained by Michael Bell and owned by Mark B. Hawtin, Wigmore Hall has compiled a record a 7-4-3 from 27 starts with earnings of $1,952,744.

-Keelerman

Northern Dancer Stakes Entries and Post Positions

Here are the entries and post positions for the $500,000 Northern Dancer Stakes Presented by Vtech (Can-I), to be run on Sunday at Woodbine. The prestigious twelve-furlong turf race has drawn a spectacular field of eight, including group I winner Scalo, Sky Classic Stakes (Can-II) winner Forte Dei Marmi, seven time grade/group stakes winner Musketier, 2011 Northern Dancer Stakes winner Wigmore Hall, Breeders' Stakes winner Irish Mission, and the consistent grade I-placed Al Khali.

1 Celtic Conviction
2 Ojibway Signal
3 Al Khali
4 Scalo
5 Forte Dei Marmi
6 Musketier
7 Wigmore Hall
8 Irish Mission

-Keelerman

CHURCHILL DOWNS UPDATE 4

Colizeo hung on to win the Northern Dancer in a thrilling photo finish with Worldly! Vow to Wager finished third, with Max Silverhammer fourth. Prince Will I Am finished fifth, and Crider was last.

But there is an objection. Did Colizeo drift in front of Worldly?

Now the race is official. Colizeo is the winner.

And now it is just 22 minutes to the ninth race. I'll be back in about fifteen minutes!

-Keelerman

CHURCHILL DOWNS UPDATE 3

It is now just one minute to post for the Northern Dancer. Here is an update on the odds. . .

Worldly 5-1
Crider 3-1
Colizeo 9-5
Vow to Wager 8-1
Prince Will I Am 5-2
Max Silverhammer 10-1

Calvin Borel is on Prince Will I Am.

I like Colizeo and Max Silverhammer.

They are loading into the gate. . .

-Keelerman

CHURCHILL DOWNS UPDATE 2

Gleam of Hope is the official winner! With a desperate late run, he closed off of slow fractions to defeat Physic Income by a half length. Asphalt finished third, followed by Our Douglas.

Guys Reward made a strong move to reach contention at the top of the stretch, but I don't think he had any running room. I believe he finished sixth.

What an exciting race! It was also the first Churchill Downs Stakes win for jockey E. T. Baird.

In the meantime, we are now only twelve minutes away from the eighth race, the Northern Dancer Stakes. Right this second, Prince Will I Am is the favorite at 8-5. Colizeo is the second choice at 2-1, and Worldy is 4-1. Crider is 9-2, Vow to Wager 11-1, and Max Silverhammer is 12-1.

It should be a good race. I would not be surprised at all if a grade I winner comes from this race. It's that solid.

I'll be back in a minute with my picks. . .

-Keelerman