The first frost in the Greater Toronto Area greeted horsepeople Saturday morning, Oct. 17, when the E.P. Taylor turf course was opened to horses preparing for the Breeders’ Stakes and Wonder Where Stakes.
It is the former race that will grab all the attention as folk hero MIGHTY HEART has a date with destiny Oct. 24.
In a year that has been unlike any other in modern times, this one-eyed, feisty colt owned and bred by Port Perry’s Larry Cordes is the first horse in 17 years heading into the Breeders’ with a chance at Canadian Triple Crown glory.
It has been 17 years since the mighty Wando accomplished the sweep in front of a huge, raucous crowd on a hot August day.
Mighty Heart won’t be racing in front of fans and it will be a little cooler than Wando’s Breeders’ Stakes day; all the Triple Crown races were later this year and the long range forecast says a high of 11 Celcius and party sunny.
MIGHTY HEART took a tour of the turf (he has raced once on turf but had trouble in that Fair Grounds race) on this past frosty Saturday, galloping along with his ears pricked with Woodbine Oaks winner Curlin’s Voyage alongside. The pair went an easy 5 furlongs in 1:03.
“Good. He looked comfortable,” said trainer Josie Carroll as she whisked off to get ready to watch another Breeders’ Stakes entrant of hers, Belichick, work on the Tapeta.
There were 11 other 3-year-olds nominated to the Breeders’ Stakes, most of whom have finished far behind Mighty Heart already, and there could be a couple of supplements added when entries are drawn Wednesday.
Since Mighty Heart’s sire Dramedy won his biggest race at 1 1/2 miles on turf when he won the Elkhorn Sakes (G2) at Keeneland, it seems as if the colt should be okay on the surface. He has had two big efforts in a short time and certainly fresh horses who may face him in the Breeders’ could be formidable rivals.
There is a lot of buzz for the main BELICHICK, owned by NK Thoroughbreds and LNJ Foxwoods and trained, incidentally by Josie Carroll. The Lemon Drop Kid fellow was second in the Plate and has awaited the Breeders’.
Kevin Attard may enter Clayton, who has run well in the Plate and Prince of Wales, but will be hampered by the Breeders’ distance, while the filly Merveilleux will relish the trip.
Whatever happens, Mighty Heart has injected excitement and hope for the little stable in 2020 and this should be a fun week.
Mighty Heart – left – and Curlin’s Voyage Saturday morning at Woodbine – JM photo
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