Husbands, Casse repeat Woodbine titles

Jockey Patrick Husbands and trainer Mark Casse wrapped up their second

straight titles in their respective divisions at Woodbine on Sunday, as the

eight-month live Thoroughbred season came to an early close. The final card was

canceled after the 2ND race due to the extreme cold weather.

Both finalists for year-end Sovereign Awards, Husbands, who won 166 races to

take the riding title, and Casse, whose 75 triumphs were 17 wins more than his

nearest competitor, teamed up for 62 wins this year to propel each to their

respective 2008 championships.

Husbands won his fifth Woodbine riding title. The five-time Sovereign

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

and 2007, also took the purse earnings mark with $9,433,918. Jim McAleney was

second with 162 wins, while Emma-Jayne Wilson was third with 111 wins.

Casse took his third Woodbine training title with 75 wins, while establishing

a Woodbine purse earnings mark of $5,648,751. He also won the 2002 and 2007

championship. Sid Attard was second this year with 58 wins, while Reade Baker

was third with 48.

Stronach Stables topped Woodbine's owner standings with purse earnings of

$2,297,301 and 32 wins. Tucci Stables was second with $2,095,800. Melnyk Racing

Stables, Inc. was third with $1,638,185.

MARSH SIDE (Gone West), who pulled a 29-1 upset in the Canadian International

(Can-G1), led all horses at the meet with $1,245,000 in earnings.

Three-year-old filly SUGAR BAY (Syncline) won six races, four of them stakes,

to lead all runners for most wins.

Jono Jones guided Charles Fipke's homebred NOT BOURBON (Not Impossible [Ire])

to a thrilling head victory in the Queen's Plate over Stronach Stables filly

GINGER BREW (Milwaukee Brew), who had won the Woodbine Oaks by six lengths.

In the other major stakes events, RAHY'S ATTORNEY (Crown Attorney) scored in

the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill) won the Northern

Dancer S. (Can-G1), and MARLANG (Langfuhr) won the Breeders' S., third jewel in

the Canadian Triple Crown.