At about this time a year ago, Weyburn was fresh off a win at 46-to-1 in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in New York for Chiefswood Stables. The Ontario-bred son of Pioneerof the Nile went on to finish fourth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, second in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth, fourth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and then eighth in the Pennsylvania Derby. As a Canadian-bred sophomore, he was eligible to compete in the Queen’s Plate, but he was kept in the U.S. to race on dirt.
Off six months, the 4-year-old made a strong return to the races on April 2 at Gulfstream Park, taking the seven furlong Sir Shackleton Stakes worth $100,000 in 1:23 for a 102 Beyer Speed Figure.
Weyburn, from the mare Sunday Affair, trained in Florida this winter with Brendan Walsh, who saddled the colt for his big win. Jimmy Jerkens trains the colt in New York. Returning to a one-turn distance worked well for Weyburn, who could be a force in the sprint and mile stakes races in New York this year.
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Jim and Susan Hill of Alberta celebrated a win by their 6-year-old Phantom Currency in the Grade 3 Appleton Stakes at Gulfstream on April 2. Trained by Brian Lynch, the son of Goldencents was coming off a layoff of more than 13 months after winning the Grade 2 MacDiarmida Stakes also at Gulfstream. The bay gelding is headed to the Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland on April 23.
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Queen’s Plate contender and probable 2-year-old male champion at the April 14 Sovereign awards God of Love has had a “minor setback” in his training, according to trainer Mark Casse. The son of Cupid, owned by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbreds, won the Grade 3 Grey Stakes and Cup & Saucer Stakes last year at Woodbine and was being pointed to the Jack Ruby Steaks on April 2 at Turfway Park, but he was not entered. Casse told Larry Simpson on the radio show Ponies 24/7 that the colt still has plenty of time to get ready for the August 21 Queen’s Plate.
Casse sent out his newest Plate contender on April 2 at Gulfstream, Hall of Dreams, who ran a strong second in a maiden race and earned an 80 Beyer Figure. Hall of Dreams is a son of Lemon Drop Kid – Hallnor, bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, which raced the gelding twice at Woodbine last year. The chestnut was sold privately to a partnership of Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch and Pantofel Stable LLC and missed by three-quarters of a length in the 1 mile and 70 yard race on the Tapeta surface.
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