“That’s what we’re in it for, that’s what we dream of — to walk into the infield and have these big days, and maybe dream of the Plate.” – Avoman’s trainer, co-owner Don MacRae
It may have been just a four-horse field, but the $150,000 Plate Trial had more than its share of drama and didn’t really tell us a whole lot about the weird and wild possible field for the 162nd Queen’s Plate on August 22.
The Trial was missing several starters due to varying reasons. Stephen, the Coronation Futurity winner last year, is out of the Plate picture with a minor setback, some recent maiden winners were not entered and a number of American-based Plate hopefuls elected to use other races or simply train to the Plate.
The Trial, at 1 1/8 miles and requiring horses to carry the Plate weight of 126 points, actually only had three entrants until late on draw day, luring maiden Truffle King, owned by Derek Chin, at the last minute to make the quartet.
Bettors made Ivan Dalos’ H C HOLIDAY the light 3-to-2 favourite and Don MacRae and La Huerta Racing’s AVOMAN (Old Forester) and jockey Antonio Gallardo was also 3-to-2, both coming out of an allowance race against older horses on July 3, netting them an 81 and 83 Beyer Speed Figures from Daily Racing Form respectively.
After an even break, Derzkii and Truffle King took command as the field passed by the grandstand for the first time. H C Holiday was third, while Antonio Gallardo and Avoman were fourth through an opening quarter-mile clocked in :25.35 and a glacial half-mile in :51.06.
The sprint was on as the group neared the quarter pole and Avoman made his move.
As the field straightened for home, Avoman, on the outside, commenced his duel with Truffle King and Derzkii, eventually powering past the pair to secure a three-quarter length win in a modest time of 1:52.84.
Meanwhile, Truffle King, wearing blinkers for the first time, dipped inwards and then out between his rivals in late stretch, taking the path away from Derzkii, a move that would cause him to be disqualified from second and place fourth. H C HOLIDAY (Ami’s Holiday), who has had his own bizarre lead-up to the Plate thus far, was moved up to second.
“I love to watch replays, I love to know my horses,” said Gallardo, a multiple champion jockey from Florida who won his second Woodbine stakes one day after taking the My Dear with Diabolic. “I could see I have long-stride horse, he has a big kick at the end. I know it’s not a lot of speed, I know these things are a bit long for him. In the beginning, I let him be strong. After that, I told him, ‘Hey, you’re not going nowhere’ and he relaxed. I had to move a little bit early because there was no pace – I wanted to make sure the horse in front worked a little bit.”
Avoman won the Bull Page Stakes to break his maiden Sept. 27 in his second career race for MacRae and La Huerta’s Jim and Graeme Bruce. That was the first stakes win for the Bruce’s, who owned a fruit and vegetable importing business based in Corbeill, Ontario. The Bruce’s first horse was the hard knocker Arthur’s Pass whom they raced in 2017. MacRae played recreational hockey with Graeme Bruce and that is how Graeme and his father Jim became involved.
Bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, Avoman, who was wearing blinkers for the second time, had been ridden in all of his previous races by Justin Stein, who rode Truffle King. Avoman was bought at the 2019 CTHS Ontario yearling sale for $60,000.
The gelding’s dam, COSA RARA (Tethra) earned over $269,000 on the trainer while competing mostly for Six Brothers Stable and Tino Attard. The mare has been just as solid as a broodmare. She produced many foals for the partnership of Robert and Scott Fairlie and Hard Eight Racing including stakes winners CAWAJA BEACH, WHO’S BIG DADDY and PROFESSOR’S RIDE. Avoman is her 11th winner.
MacRae and his wife LeighAnne welcomed a baby girl this past winter and had the stable’s horses training at Carrick Hills Farm in Roseneath, a centre owned by Ursula Selby and Peter Carr.
Three of the Trial runners could go to the Plate which, should early favourite Weyburn not be sent north by Chiefswood Stable, will have a big field with no standout. Truffle King, who has been in the top four in all of his races but has yet to win, continues to hint. H C Holiday, who is officially a maiden but won a maiden race only to have it taken away more than a week later by the AGCO due to a Lasix paperwork issue, also could be entered.
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