On Thursday evening, a few sleeps before the running of the 162nd Queen’s Plate, Canada’s most famous race, a colt by the name of SAFE CONDUCT stormed down the track to win a stakes race. It made headlines on social media; photos were posted.
And then Thoroughbred racing people did a double-take.
This was not SAFE CONDUCT, one of the favourites for the Plate on Aug. 22, obviously.
Instead, it was a 2-year-old trotting colt making his second career start at Woodbine Mohawk in Campbellville, several miles west of Woodbine racetrack. Safe Conduct raced to victory in the second $69,733 Gold division of the Ontario Sires Stakes Thursday night for Irv Storfing and Charalambos Christoforou. Safe Conduct made his Ontario Sires Stakes debut from Post 4 and after sitting fifth for much of the race, he sprinted home in :27.3 to claim a neck victory over favourite Twin B Archie and pacesetter Esplosione. The colt stopped the teletimer at 1:55.1 in just his second lifetime start.
The Ontario-bred by Archangel – Safekeeping was named by Storfing, who is from Toronto.
Charalambos Christoforou was aware that there was ‘another Safe Conduct’.
“I heard them mention it when they were interviewing [son] Chris after the race,” said Christoforou. Chris drove the colt for trainer/wife Camilla. The family s very high on their young trotting colt and think that he will be in the headlines again this year. As for the Thoroughbred Safe Conduct, Christoforou said he will be watching with interest on Sunday.
“I will be rooting for Safe Conduct in the Plate for sure.”
Safe Conduct, the 2-year-old trotter, after his big win August 19 at Woodbine Mohawk – courtesy Garnet Barnsdale
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