As it has been said, Fort Erie racetrack is alive and kicking, and the 129th season of the track where Northern Dancer broke his maiden began on Sunday, May 31. The community came out in droves to support racing on a sunny day and wagering numbers in the $1.5 million range were essentially on-par with opening day a year ago.
Another thing that was essentially the same this year was ICON Racing Stables and trainer Anthony Adamo getting off to a fast start. Well, more like sizzling. ICON, owned by Dave Andreola and family, won four of the eight races on opening day including both added-money dashes. The stable enlisted jockey Sofia Vives to come to Fort Erie for the day and she piloted all four winners.
Somewhat fittingly, BACK TO REALITY was the first winner for ICON, Adamo and Vives as the gelding took race 2 and paid just $2.60 to win.
ICON’s track-record holder GAROFOLI (Souper Speedy) won a $21,000 allowance race in a fast 1:03.09 (not far off his own track record of 1:02.76) and paid $2.40.
The stable also won both featured races. CAPTAIN CLUTCH, a Reload filly claimed from Woodbine for $15,000 on May 8, won the $31,600 Summer Solstice Cup for maidens at 5 furlongs, edging Nakedintheforest. This was the second start of the year for Captain Clutch and third race of her career. She was bred by Northern Dawn Stable.
The Sprint Into Summer Cup, also for maidens, was won by the well-bred FOUR BEACH FRIENDS (Speightstown), a $12,500 claim from Gulfstream Park in January. Bred by the Phipps Stable, Four Beach Friends and Vives led all the way and won by 1 1/2 lengths in 58.23. It was the gelding’s 14th career race.
This is just the third year for ICON Racing Stables, which won 38 races from 110 starts in 2025 at various tracks and is already eight for 13 in 2026. And while the team was winning all those races at Fort Erie, it was claiming at Woodbine, taking old timer Mad Dog n Joe for $15,000 from his easy win midway through the card and Grand Warrior (Jpn) for $10,000 from his very troubled outing in race 10.
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