Toronto, ON – El Brujo remained unbeaten in 2009 and solidified himself as a legitimate Queen’s Plate contender, courtesy of a score in Saturday’s $150,000 Queenston Stakes at Woodbine.
El Brujo, who launched his three-year-old campaign with a decisive 8 ¾-length win in the Achievement Stakes on April 11, was sent off as the prohibitive favourite in the seven-furlong Queenston. Patiently handled by Patrick Husbands, the son of Candy Ride watched from second in the seven-horse field, as Shut It Down, last year’s Frost King Stakes winner, set early fractions of :23.81 and :46.68.
Trained by Malcolm Pierce, El Brujo dueled into the stretch, drove clear with a furlong to run and crossed the wire a 1 ¼-length winner. Shut It Down was a game second in his three-year-old debut, while Mark Casse trainee Active Duty finished third.
The final time was 1:22.17 over the Polytrack.
“Malcolm told me to do what I wanted to do,” said Husbands. “He left there relaxed. Down the back, he was relaxed. I had to pull the trigger 4 1/2 furlongs out and try to get the first run on (Shut It Down). He had no pressure. It took a lot out of my horse to get to him and then put him away. The race took a lot out of him, but he showed me he could get two turns.”
A lifetime winner of four races from eight starts, along with three seconds and one third, El Brujo could give Pierce his first Plate win. “I was hoping he would win like he did,” offered Pierce. “He got a lot out of the race today. He got tired down the lane and didn’t draw off. He had to use him a little early. You don’t want to get somebody loose on the lead and not be able to catch him. He did everything right. Hopefully, he’ll move forward from this race.”
Lorne Richards, who trains Shut It Down for owner K.K. Sangara, was pleased with his gelding’s effort. “I’m really pleased with the race,” said Richards, of the son of Porto Foricos. “Seven furlongs is a tough go first time out and he’s had lot of behavioral issues, so he had a pretty good day for himself.”
Jockey Corey Fraser, aboard Active Duty, who bested El Brujo in last year’s Coronation Futurity Stakes, also praised the performance of his mount. “It was a good race,” said Fraser. “There was no pace and he settled behind the leader really well. I was very happy with him. It was a building block for the future. He tried really hard.”
The Queenston is one of several Queen’s Plate preps at Woodbine. The Marine (May 16), the Plate Trial (May 31) and Victoria Park Stakes (June
7) are still left on the schedule. The Plate itself is slated for June 21.
El Brujo paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10, combining with Shut It Down ($3.70, $2.80) for a $9.60 exactor. Active Duty ($3.40) completed a $26.70 triactor.
For more on the road to the “Gallop for the Guineas,” visit www.queensplate.com.
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