John Velazquez Rides Scorching in Plate Trial, No Time In Oaks

American Hall of Fame jockey JOHN VELAZQUEZ is expected to ride Paul Braverman and Timothy Punch’s SCORCHING in the Plate Trial at Woodbine this Sunday, July 20. The Trial, at 1 1/8 miles, is the final local prep for the King’s Plate on August 16.

The Trial supports this Sunday’s big race, the $500,000 WOODBINE OAKS, 70th edition, for three-year-old Canadian-bred fillies. Velazquez will ride Gary Barber’s No Time in the Oaks, one of five fillies that trainer Mark Casse will start in the 1 1/8 mile classic.

The PLATE TRIAL figures to have a small field, as several of the 15 nominees had recent races.

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SCORCHING, by Mo Town, had a solid return off a long layoff when second in the Marine Stakes (G3) to MANSETTI, who he will meet again in the Trial. Dylan Davis rode Scorching in the Marine, but since the King’s Plate is on a Saturday, many US riders are tied up in big events at other tracks.

John Charalambous, who trains Scorching, sent the colt out for half-mile work in 49.40 on Sunday.

The Trial entrants are headed by NOTORIOUS GANGSTER, winner of the Queenston Stakes at seven furlongs this year and the 1 1/8 mile Coronation Futurity last year. He is trained by Josie Carroll for Mark Dodson.

MANSETTI and DEWOLF will start for trainer Kevin Attard. Mansetti looked good in the Marine win, his first two-turn attempt and victory. Pietro Moran rode the son of Collected for Al and Bill Ulwelling.

DEWOLF, owned by X Men Racing IV and Canuck Racing Club, won the Bull Page Stakes on turf last year and was second in the Grade 3 Grey and Coronation. He fizzled in the Queenston at seven furlongs when third to Notorious Gangster. Attard noted that he thought Dewolf’s race was messed up by “too many instructions for the jockey.”

Also on tap for the Trial is Unbridled Weather and perhaps speedster Audobahn Ace, and Watsonville Red.

SHIFTY could be favoured in the Oaks. She is one of the Casse trainees who was third in the Fury Stakes. All five of Casse’s entrants have shown a desire to run on the lead and Shifty has employed that style to win two sprints. No Time, by Not This Time, is also a monster on the pace, as is Winterberry. War Signal and Ella It Is have both won route races on the pace.

Trainer KATERINA VASSILIEVA will send out REVELERS ROW for Elliott Logan’s TEC Stable and the More Than Ready filly has a debut winner and a second-place finish to an older mare in her career.

“She’s got all the qualities of a good racehorse,” said Vassilieva. “She’s classy, professional, competitive, intelligent. I had her all last year. She didn’t make it to the races at two, but she had a lot of education at the racetrack last year. This year as a three-year-old, everything sort of came together.”

Red-hot Rafael Hernandez rode Reveler’s Row last time, but he will stick with ARISTELLA (also by More Than Ready) who was fourth in the Fury. Stretching out to nine furlongs is going to be ideal for the Rachel Halden trainee who has won two route races including the Princess Elizabeth Stakes last year. Flying Zee Racing Stables LLC own Aristella.

Hernandez, incidentally, has the mount on TOM’S MAGIC for the Plate, the US based Justify colt trained by Michael Stidham who won the Tale of the Cat Stakes in his most recent start.