He’s not that big, but NOTORIOUS GANGSTER packs a punch and with his gritty win in the Queenston Stakes on June 8, becomes the King’s Plate favourite with just 10 weeks to the big race.
Mark Dodson’s homebred dark bay by American champion two-year-old Classic Empire was overlooked in the betting for the seven furlong Queenston despite his fast finish when third in the six-furlong Woodstock Stakes in his season debut on April 27. Trained by Josie Carroll, one of the great Canadian trainers who knows a thing about winning the Plate, Notorious Gangster was passed over by bettors who were in love with DEWOLF, the Silent Name (Jpn) sophomore who was coming into his sophomore opener off many stunning workout times. Since April, he had six blistering moves, four bullets.
Once the field of seven was on their way, it was Pink Lloyd’s full brother Regal Guest who made an easy lead under Patrick Husbands, while Woodstock winner Mansetti bobbled badly, almost losing jockey Leo Salles. He was quickly many lengths off the lead.
Dewolf didn’t seem to know whether to try for the lead or sit back and the colt elected to drop back, come off the rail and then move up to the flank of the leader. Mansetti moved fast on the outside to join the fray, chasing in third.
Notorious Gangster, with rider Fraser Aebly on board, bided his time, but stayed in range. The winner of last year’s nine furlong Coronation Futurity is tractable and Aebly allowed the colt to settle on the rail around the turn, despite a soft half-mile clocking in 46.89. Regal Guest, one of two in the race owned by Nancy Guest, was still clear, but when Dewolf stalled and opened up the 2 path, Notorious Gangster and Aebly charged through before slowly wearing down Regal Guest for the win in 1:23.36. Regal Guest was 6 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Dewolf, while Lucky Guest rallied out in the middle of the track for fourth.
“I have no doubt he’s a route horse,” said Carroll, whose first Plate crown came with Edenwold in 2006. “I think he’s a two-turn horse – he just loves to run. From the day we’ve had him, I told Mark Dodson, ‘He’s just a little fighter.’ Any time he worked with another horse, he just pinned those ears and wanted his nose in front.”
The last Coronation Futurity winner to come back and take the Plate was Norcliffe in 1976.
Notorious Gangster’s sire won the Arkansas Derby, finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby and was second in the Preakness for trainer Mark Casse. He got off to a good start at stud, but was sold to Korea last year.
The dam of the Queenston winner is Sister Nova, a winner by Verrazano that Dodson bought as a yearling. Sister Nova is a half-sister to another filly Dodson owned, Sister Nation, who won the Ruling Angel Stakes in 2017. Sister Nation has produced the winner Encourageeachother.
Second dam Evita’s Sister, by Candy Ride, is a full sister to Grade 1-winning mare Evita Argentina (La Brea S., San Vicenta S.). This is the female line from Harry Mangurian’s Mockingbird Farm. Fifth dam Jealous Appeal produced graded stakes winners such as Appealing Skier, Grade 1 winner Trippi and graded stakes winner Miss Jealski.
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