Husbands, Casse continue Woodbine reign

For the third consecutive season, the duo of jockey Patrick Husbands and

trainer Mark Casse topped their respective colonies at Woodbine.

Husbands, who won 188 races to take the riding title, and Casse, whose 71

triumphs were 17 wins more than his nearest competitor, connected for 41

victories this year to propel each to their respective 2009 championships, as

the eight-month live Thoroughbred season came to a close on Sunday.

Husbands won his sixth Woodbine riding title. The six-time Sovereign

Award-winning jockey, who scored his previous championships in 1999, 2000, 2002,

2007 and 2008, also took the purse earnings mark with $10,827,171. Chantal

Sutherland was second with 139 wins, while Eurico Rosa da Silva was third with

123 wins.

Casse took his third straight -- and fourth overall --Woodbine training title

with 71 wins for a Woodbine-leading purse earnings mark of $4,804,929. He also

won the 2002 championship. Sid Attard was second this year with 54 wins, while

Roger Attfield and Steve Asmussen were third with 52.

Melnyk Racing Stables, Inc. topped the Woodbine's owner standings with purse

earnings of $3,007,381 and 40 wins. Tucci Stables was second with $1,212,671 (25

wins). Bear Stables, Ltd. was third with $1,573,169 (24 wins).

The winner of this year's Canadian International (Can-G1), CHAMPS ELYSEES

(GB) (Danehill), led all horses at the meet with $1,365,500 in earnings.

Multiple stakes star TRIBAL BELLE (Tribunal), Six Pack Sammy (Yonaguska),

Spider Rock (Awesome Again) and Step On Up (Gilded Time) each had five wins to

lead all runners at Woodbine.

Da Silva guided Sam-Son Farm's homebred EYE OF THE LEOPARD (A.P. Indy) to an

exciting neck victory in the Queen's Plate over Mr. Foricos Two U (Porto Foricos)

and MILWAUKEE APPEAL (Milwaukee Brew), who won the Woodbine Oaks by 3 3/4

lengths.

In the other major stakes events, VENTURA (Chester House) became the first

filly to win the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), and PERFECT SHOWER (Perfect Soul [Ire])

pulled a 46-1 upset in the Breeders' S., the third jewel in the Canadian Triple

Crown.