Lokinforpursemonee, patiently handled by Gary Boulanger, rallied from last of eight to earn his first career win in Sunday’s co-featured $143,000 Victoria Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by John Ross for his J.R. Racing Stable, the Silent Name bay arrived at the six furlong sprint for juveniles from a narrow head loss, on debut, to Pachi Cruze in the 5 1/2-furlong Frost King Stakes.
Arcen, sent to post as the 2-1 mutuel favourite while making his career debut, dropped jockey Jesse Campbell in the warm up before the race and left the gate awkwardly from post two, just inside of Lokinforpursemonee.
Junket, supplemented to the Victoria for $2500, was away quickest of all under leading rider Eurico Rosa da Silva and set swift splits of :23.07 and :46.82 with Hunts Bay and State of Honor applying moderate pressure.
Lokinforpusemonee was shuffled back to the last through the turn but when Boulanger asked the colt for run, he burst willingly between rivals and was up in time to collar Junket for a 3/4-length win. Junket held place by a neck over State of Honor. Lokinforpursemonee covered six furlongs in 1:11.17.
Boulanger demonstrated an abundance of confidence in Lokinforpursemonee to take back off the early pace.
“The four horse (Dahog) broke with me, but he had a little more turn of foot and was coming down. I didn’t want to get involved in between, so I eased him back out of there,” said Boulanger. “I probably got a little further back than I wanted, but I get on him a lot in the morning, I know him pretty well, and I know he has a pretty good turn of foot. He showed a lot of character today. When I asked him, he was always there and he got the job done.”
Ross purchased the colt for $32,000 at the 2015 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale
“I eyeballed him at the sales here and he was a beautiful looking animal. He’s bred by Hill ‘N’ Dale and they produce a beautiful horse,” said Ross. “He came to hand as a two-year-old fairly early. He’s a very smart horse, but what I really like about him is he’s so willing.
“You can put him in between, take him back, and do all the things you’d like a mature horse to do,” continued Ross. “He’s found those things early and Gary did a tremendous job today. He got back into the pack a bit and Gary just relaxed and waited for an opening. When Gary pulled the trigger, the horse responded very well.”
Lokinforpursemonee, bred in Ontario by Hill ‘N’ Dale Farm, banked $90,000 in victory while improving his record to 1-1-0 from two starts
He paid $10.50, $4.10 and $3.40, combining with Junket ($3.70, $2.80) for a $36 (3-6) exactor. A 3-6-5 triactor (State of Honor, $3.70 to show) was worth $137.70, while a $1 Superfecta [3-6-5-4 (Dahog)] came back $455.10
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