Eagle Poise, a five-year-old son of Empire Maker, who finished second in the 2009 edition of the $150,000 Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes, looks to go one better in the marathon feature on Sunday, closing day of the 2011 Woodbine thoroughbred meet.
Owned by Riverdee Stable and trained by Graham Motion, Eagle Poise won the 1 5/8-mile prep for the Valedictory two years ago by 8 1/4 lengths, before finishing second, by a length, to Cloudy’s Knight in the 1 3/4-mile added-money feature.
Now, he’ll look to build off a gutsy performance as he challenges five rivals, including 2011 Breeders’ Cup Marathon champion Afleet Again, in the race that represents the final stakes event of the Woodbine thoroughbred season.
On November 11, Eagle Poise battled 2009 Queen’s Plate champion Eye of the Leopard the length of the stretch and eked out a neck victory in this year’s Valedictory prep.
“I was very happy with the effort and the result,” said Motion, who took over training duties of the gelding in the summer. “I was impressed. Patrick (jockey Husbands) showed great confidence in the way he rode him. He probably knows him a little better than I do.”
Eagle Poise and Husbands found themselves in third after a half-mile and a mile, albeit 17 and 19 lengths back, respectively, of Holy Schneikies.
The bay began to close resolutely on the far turn and gained a short advantage over Eye of the Leopard a sixteenth of a mile from the wire, prevailing under a drive.
“When the pacesetter opened up, it spread out the field, but Patrick remained calm and cool,” offered Motion. “The horse came out of the race well and we’re hoping he can win again on Sunday.”
A five-time winner, along with 10 top-three finishes from 19 starts, Eagle Poise has had just three starts in 2011. In September, his seasonal debut, he was second in a one-mile allowance race at Presque Isle Downs. After finishing sixth, just 3 3/4 lengths behind Sanagas in the Grade 3 Sycamore at Keeneland on October 20, he made the trek to Woodbine for the Valedictory prep.
“All of his races this year have been respectable,” said Motion. “Even in the Sycamore, he wasn’t that far back. He’s a straightforward horse and I like the way he’s coming into this race.”
Last year, Pool Play, under Patrick Husbands, won the Valedictory in a time of 3:01.42.
FIELD FOR THE VALEDICTORY
Post / Horse / Jockey / Trainer
1/Alpha Bettor/Tyler Pizarro/ Dan Vella
2/Eagle Poise/Patrick Husbands/ Graham Motion 3/Afleet Again/Cornelio Velasquez/Robert Reid, Jr.
4/Eye of the Leopard/Luis Contreras/Mark Frostad 5/Harrods Creek/Chantal Sutherland/Bill Mott 6/Getta Rhythm/Justin Stein/Melvin Kendrick
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