MANSETTI’s streaking win in the six-furlong WOODSTOCK STAKES at Woodbine on April 27 gave a bit of a lift to the speedy colt’s Plate aspirations as the son of Collected – Gidget Girl by Sky Mesa pulled away smartly to win with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure. The fast-closing run of Coronation Futurity winner NOTORIOUS GANGSTER to be a close third (later placed second) was also fun to see, as both colts move up the Canadian Thoroughbred top Plate contenders’ list. The Plate is in 3 1/2 months on Aug. 16.
On the Woodbine Oaks scene, not a lot is happening as just one Ontario-bred was in the Star Shoot Stakes on April 26. Winterberry was unplaced in that dash at six furlongs. The Oaks is July 20.
Mansetti, trained by Kevin Attard for Al and Bill Ulwelling was a sprint stakes winner as a juvenile, but a one mile experiment in New York in the Jerome over a very deep, tiring track, rated a 42 on the Daily Racing Form Variant scale, did not go well. He went to Attard’s training facility at the former Gardiner Farms in Caledon East, regrouped and came back to the races in sizzling and shiny form.
American sports broadcaster JIM ROME, who raced the great Shared Belief, bred Mansetti, who is from the unraced mare Gidget Girl, a daughter of Rome’s Brazilian mare Surfer Girl.
Mark Dodson’s homebred Notorious Gangster, by Classic Empire, had a super run and since he won the 1 1/8 mile Coronation, the Plate distance of 10 furlongs is a nice fit. Of course, he has to beat the long Coronation jinx – the last horses to win that race at two and then the Plate at three was Norcliffe in 1975.
There as good news for the SCORCHING team this week. Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch’s Cup & Saucer Stakes winner jogged at Woodbine after being sidelined in the US at Fair Hill Training Centre due to illness. Scorching, by Mo Town, had been training New York for the Gotham Stakes in March, but he was scratched the day before the race.
American-based TOM’S MAGIC (Justify) had a messy run in the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland earlier this month. His connections say he emerged from the race with a minor cut, but he is all set to continue on his way to the Plate.
Nominations (early) are here.
166th KING’S PLATE – Early contenders (15)
Woodbine Oaks contenders are fillies (f) listed below
1. Notorious Gangster – Trained by Josie Carroll, won Coronation Futurity, fast closing second in Woodstock
2. Mansetti – Trained by Kevin Attard, won the Woodstock Stakes
3. Tom’s Magic – Trained by Mike Stidham, won Fair Grounds stakes race, troubled in Transylvania Stakes last start
4.. Scorching – Trained by John Charalambous, won Cup and Saucer
5. Ashley’s Archer – Trained by Mark Casse, second in Tampa Bay allowance in ’25 debut
6. Dewolf – Trained by Kevin Attard, stakes winner at 2, 2nd Coronation
7. Faber – trained by Kevin Attard/William Morey, 2nd Turfway
8. Love and Poetry (f)– trained by Cherie Deveaux, 2nd LaCombe Memorial on turf, FG
9 Shifty (f) – Catch a Glimpse S., 3rd Grade 3 Grey.
10 War Signal (f) – Gulfstream winner
11 Royal Presence – Chiefswood – promising maiden, Bill Mott
12 Aristella (f) – won Princess Elizabeth, Rachel Halden, trainer
13 Mythical Man – Reeves Racing, Danny Gargan trainee showed promise at 2
14 Double Velocity (f)– sold following debut win at Keeneland
15 Souper Tuscan – 2nd to Mansetti in debut, C2 Thoroughbreds new co-owners
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