Just 88 days until the King’s Plate and 60 to the Woodbine Oaks, the two premier races for Canadian bred 3-year-olds and two 7 furlong stakes races were held last weekend. Sovereign Award finalists DIXIE LAW and CASSON won the Ruling Angel and King Corrie Stakes respectively with plans to take the next step forward toward the big events.
DIXIE LAW’s 86 Beyer Figure from her win was her career best and the daughter of Tiz the Law fought hard to barge between fillies and defeat a tough front runner, the American bred Meilani and favoured LUSTER, who was previously unbeaten. That will move Garland William’s filly up a bit in Canadian Thoroughbred’s top 20 list of Plate/Oaks contenders.
Casson, a striking, steel grey colt by Caravaggio, was fully expected to win the King Corrie as he had fared well in a short Tapeta stakes outing at Gulfstream Park in Florida during the winter. Winner of the Victoria Stakes as a juvenile, Casson, owned by Conrad Farms is not a certainty to move on to the Grade 3 Marine Stakes at 1 1/16 miles (or, later the Plate Trial at nine furlongs) as trainer Mark Casse is not convinced the colt is a two-turn runner.
Behind Casson in the King Corie were two speed types, Highwaytothemoon and Reload Raleigh. The disappointment in the race was the sixth place finish by Coronation Futurity winner FIRE AND WINE, who is certainly better at longer distances but also, he did not muster much of a run.
TEC Racing’s YUKON STRIKER (Maclean’s Music) remained undefeated with an allowance/optional claiming sprint win over older horses last weekend. Trained by Kevin Attard, the speed gelding earned an 85 Beyer Figure and he is now 2 for 2.
The current leader of the CT list is MAGICAL FACTOR (The Factor) from Chiefswood Stables and traine Rachel Halden. The impressive maiden winner on the grass at Keeneland has been ideal for 17 days after posting a couple of workouts since his win. MILITARY TIME has had a big workout time since his sprint win for Casse and last year’s Champion 2-year-old filly CORSIA VELOCE is working steadily as she gets ready for her shot at the Oaks. Her latest prep was May 19 when she toured 5 furlongs in 1:01.40.
Chiefswood has a number of other possible contenders for both races including BLIND RIVER, POWELL RIVER, PIPER’S FIRST and JUST IN TOUCH.
CANADIAN THOROUGHBRED’S TOP 20 KING’S PLATE/OAKS CONTENDERS
Rank Horse Top Beyer Figure
1. MAGICAL FACTOR (90)
2. MILITARY TIME (81)
3. CORSIA VELOCE – filly (85)
4. DIXIE LAW – filly (73)
5. FIRE AND WINE (86)
6. CASSON (79)
7. LUSTER (84)
8. YUKON STRIKER (85)
9. BLIND RIVER (77)
10. POWELL RIVER (69)
11. PIPER’S GIFT – filly
12. LUV YOUR NEIGHBOR – filly (83)
13. JUST IN TOUCH – filly
14 IMYOURMEDICINEMAN (74)
15. BAAEED ALYNNA (61)
16. WILLFUL WARRIOR (78)
17. BOSSY CANDY (79)
18 JUST IN TOUCH (68)
19 BELIEVEIN (73)
20. GHOSTWRITTEN (71)
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