Booth Sovereign Award-winning two-year-old champions of 2023, WITWATERSRAND and MY BOY PRINCE, both owned by Gary Barber and trained by Mark Casse, make their Canadian return this weekend at Woodbine.
Witwatersrand is one of six three-year-old fillies entered in the seven-furlong Ruling Angel Stakes on May 18 and My Boy Prince has just four rivals in the King Corrie Stakes on Sunday.
While the pair of sprints likely won’t have much bearing on the Woodbine Oaks or King’s Plate, there are eligibles to those races competing.
While Witwatersrand will be trying to get back into top form after a disastrous Florida stint, Ontario-breds A LITTLE FRISKY and C C ROYAL will start their trek to the Oaks. The former is coming off a layoff after winning the Glorious Song Stakes last October (over Witwatersrand). Josie Carroll trains for Mark Dodson. C C Royal made her Tapeta surface debut in the Star Shoot for Casse but was a dull fifth behind Sabatini, who is back in the Ruling Angel field.
“I was disappointed in her last effort,” said Casse. “I thought she would have run better but she was very flat.”
The chestnut daughter of Flatter made her first five starts at Laurel Park, which yielded two wins and a trio of thirds. She broke her maiden second time out, an 8 ¼-length romp at 5 ½ panels over the main track last December.
C C Royal’s other victory came in her three-year-old debut when she posted a five-length win at seven panels on March 3 as the 1-5 choice. Her record stands at 2-0-3 from six starts.
“She’s doing well. We thought she had trained very well coming into the Star Shoot and she just didn’t show up. We’re going into this one scratching our heads. There is a chance that she just isn’t as good on the all-weather, but we’ll know more after Saturday.”
Witwatersrand won the Grade 3 Mazarine at Woodbine last year, but flopped on dirt and turf in the south this winter.
“I ran her on the dirt at Gulfstream and she just didn’t handle it at all,” said Casse. “Then we tried her on the grass at Tampa and it was mixed reviews. I am excited to get her back on the all-weather. I think that is the key. Having Patrick [jockey, Husbands] aboard isn’t going to hurt.”
Witwatersrand made a winning debut last September at Woodbine, a three-quarter length score at 6 ½ panels over the all-weather track as the 2-1 choice.
Third in the seven-furlong Glorious Song next time out, she followed that effort up with a 2 ¾-length triumph at 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather in the Mazarine Stakes (G3).
“It was a tremendous race in the Mazarine,” praised Casse. “She rated nicely, and I thought she was extremely impressive. She ran fast [1:43.72]. When she brings her A-game, we know she is very tough.
“She has been a little hit and miss at this point, so we’re hoping Saturday is a hit.”
A $65,000 yearling purchase and then bought back for $37,000 as a two-year-old in training in Ocala, Barber purchased the filly for $230,000 last October at the Fasig-Tipton Digital Sale.
Live racing resumes Sunday at 1:10 p.m., highlighted by the running of the King Corrie Stakes.
Field for the Ruling Angel
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Do It Divi – Luis Contreras – Jonathan Thomas
2 – Sabatini – Sofia Vives – Josie Carroll
3 – A Little Frisky – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll
4 – C C Royal – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
5 – Rosa – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
6 – Witwatersrand – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
My Boy Prince, third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf last year, is the lukewarm favourite for the Plate but he will be odds-on in the King Corrie.
The grey son of Cairo Prince returned to racing at Keeneland last month and landed on the edges in the Palisade Stakes at five furlongs on turf.
“I thought his race in Keeneland was very good,” said Casse. “I kind of feel as though he’s good, but he’s not there yet. The Breeders’ Cup took a lot out of him, and it’s taken him a while to bounce back.”
My Boy Prince, the $115,000 sale-topper at the 2022 CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, ran second in his debut last May.
One race after a six-length maiden-breaking score at five furlongs, the striking grey toyed with his rivals to the tune of a 14-length triumph in the 6 ½-furlong Simcoe Stakes on August 27.
Second in the Summer Stakes (G1T) in September, My Boy Prince was back in the winner’s circle courtesy of a 4 ¼-length victory in the Cup & Saucer Stakes, at 1 1/16 miles over the E.P. Taylor turf.
The King’s Plate hopeful heads into the King Corrie with a record of 3-2-1 from seven starts.
“He has the talent, and he has the ability. He should appreciate coming back to Woodbine. Hopefully, it results in a big effort on Sunday.”
Out of the Silent Name (JPN) mare Hopping Not Hoping, My Boy Prince was bred in Ontario by Murray Graham Smith.
Casse will also be represented by Midnight Mascot, a bay son of Army Mule. Sporting a mark of 2-2-1 from six starts, the colt heads into his latest test off a three-quarter length win in the six-furlong Woodstock Stakes on April 28.
“He ran well,” said Casse, who teamed with jockey Patrick Husbands, Barber, and Olympic Runner to win the 2019 running of the King Corrie. “I also think he will like the added distance too.”
After a third and second to launch his career, Midnight Mascot broke his maiden last October. He was fifth in the Grey Stakes (G3) before closing out his rookie campaign with a runner-up performance in the Clarendon Stakes on December 2.
“He’s a very consistent horse,” said Casse. “We were very happy with the Woodstock and hopefully, he can build off that.”
Bred by Yvonne Schwabe Thoroughbreds, Midnight Mascot was purchased by Manfred and Penny Conrad for $200,000 at the 2022 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
The King Corrie is slated as race three on Sunday’s card, with a first post of 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com.
Field for the King Corrie
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Maximus Magic – Rafael Hernandez – Norm McKnight
2 – My Boy Prince – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
3 – Roi Soleil – Kazushi Kimura – Steven Chircop
4 – Break the Spell – Skye Chernetz – David Cotey
5 – Midnight Mascot – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
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