Lokinforpursemonee, patiently and confidently handled by Luis Contreras, rallied impressively to take Saturday’s $115,800 Woodstock Stakes, at Woodbine.
Owned and trained by John Ross, the bay son of Silent Name was making his seasonal debut in the six-furlong main track sprint for three-year-olds.
Contreras settled Lokinforpursemonee, the second-longest shot on the toteboard, near the back of the pack through the early stages of the Woodstock as Yorkton and Marten River set splits of :22.37 and :44.39 with heavy favourite Uncle B poised just to their outside.
Yorkton and Marten River were still one-two at the stretch call, but Contreras and Lokinforpursemonee were picking up steam and ground on their rivals with every step, going on to notch a 1 ¼-length victory. Uncle B, who was fractious in the gate, settled for second, while Yorkton was third. The final time was a brisk 1:09.16.
The pre-race plan Ross drew up worked to perfection.
“They told me he was going to come from off the pace,” noted Contreras. “He had so much confidence in the horse, that I just rode him the way he told me. He had a tremendous kick from the 3/8ths (pole) to the wire.
“I got a perfect race. I got a perfect trip. I was waiting for the 3/8ths to make my move. I asked him a little and he started to make his move by himself. Once I hit the quarter-pole, I just swung outside and he gave me everything.”
For Ross, it was a much more satisfying effort from the colt who concluded his two-year-old campaign finishing seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Cup & Saucer Stakes and Coronation Futurity.
“He was the highest earner, the highest weight – he carried 123 pounds,” noted Ross, of last year’s Victoria Stakes and Simcoe Stakes champ. “He beat some good three-year-olds here. I’m so proud of this horse, being by Silent Name. The way that Luis rode him today, that was kind of our plan. We let the little speed go. If you look at his sprint races, he does want to come from behind. I know last year, I tried him going long and sometimes you have to try with the big money for the three-year-olds. It didn’t work, but we’re back to the good plan again.”
Lokinforpursemonee, bred in in Ontario by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, banked $72,000 in victory while improving his record to 2-3-0 from seven starts.
He paid $30.10, $7.30 and $4.30, combining with Uncle B ($3.20, $2.40) for a $108.90 exactor. Yorkton ($4.30) completed a $729.20 triactor. A $1 Superfecta (Sailing Home) returned $982.90.
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