The most recent stakes races deemed as preps for the Canadian classics, the Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate, were won by American-breds, but there are still plenty of good Canadian-breds waiting in the wings as those big events draw near.
The WOODBINE OAKS, at 1 1/8 miles, is on August 15, the same day as the Plate Trial and once again this year it appears as if some fillies may be good enough to go from the Oaks to the Plate.
The local Oaks contenders are led by CURLIN’S VOYAGE, winner of the Fury Stakes and last year’s Champion 2-year-old filly.
Heading north for the Oaks from her base at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland is the exciting LASTING UNION, a Union Rags filly who won an allowance race at Delaware Park by 12 lengths on July 22 for Hidden Creek Farm and is trained Michael Matz.
Bred by the late Bill Graham, Lasting Union ran 1 mile and 70 yards on dirt in 1:42 for an 87 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form. Her dam, Happy Vale, is a Distorted Humor daughter of multiple Grade 2 winner Indian Vale who raced for Eugene Melnyk.
“We were really pleased with her,” said Matz to The Horse of Delaware Valley website. “The jockey that we had planned to ride her had a fall in the third race and couldn’t ride. The only jockey we could get was Alexander Crispin, an apprentice. But he gave her a good ride. She’s a pretty nice filly.”
This was Lasting Union’s second win after finishing fourth three times at Gulfstream Park and then winning a maiden special weight at Laurel on June 19.
“We really liked her in Florida, but we couldn’t get a race with two turns,” said Matz. “They were all mile races but only around one turn. She wants a bit of distance.”
“She’s a Canadian-bred, so we’re looking at the Woodbine Oaks in three weeks,” said Matz. “We don’t know if she’ll like a synthetic surface, but for a half a million dollars, we have to take a chance.”
Lasting Union in a workout at Palm Meadows this winter
British Columbia star Infinite Patience ran a bang-up race in the Fury Stakes when third and is on the short list of Oaks contenders, and Terra Racing’s Afleet Katherine could be a player as she remained unbeaten in 2 starts with her second turf sprint win last weekend. Owlette, taken out of her game plan in the Selene when not on the pace, could still enter the fray.
TOP 5 WOODBINE OAKS CONTENDERS
- Curlin’s Voyage
- Merveilleux
- Infinite Patience
- Lasting Union
- Afleet Katherine
In QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS, Howard Walton’s DOTTED LINE was impressive in his third-place finish in the Marine Stakes (G3) in his second start of the year for trainer Sid Attard. A gelded son of SIGNATURE RED, Dotted Line posted an 83 Beyer Figure while closing mildly behind rising star Shirl’s Speight, who is American-bred.
Cup & Saucer Stakes winner MUSKOKA GOLD, laid up earlier this year at Casse Training Center, recorded his second workout recently of :48 flat for four furlongs, but he is playing catch-up.
HALO AGAIN is working at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen since his Queenston win. Clayton was sensational in his allowance win trying a route distance for the first time and there are 4 fillies on the CT top 12 Plate contenders list.
TOP 12 QUEEN’S PLATE CONTENDERS
*Filly/Oaks contender
1. Halo Again 76, 71, 72 – The Coronation Futurity winner won the July 4 Queenston Stakes at 7 furlongs in steady fashion. Trained by Steve Asmussen for Willis Horton and Winchell Thoroughbreds, he was a $600,000 yearling and is by Speightstown, bred by Anderson Farms.
2. Clayton 88, 83, 88 – What a first attempt at a route distance this colt had recently, posting an 88 Beyer Figure in a big win. This is another Kevin Attard trainee and a colt by Bodemeister who was a sensational debut winner at five furlongs last November.
3. Elusive Knight 82 82,, 82, 72 – Four second-place finishes in succession for this Stronach Stables homebred and he is by top sire Ghostzapper. Trained by Sid Attard. His 2nd dam Ariege is a Grade 1 winner of the Santa Anita Oaks.
*4. Curlin’s Voyage, 87, 87, 83, 63 – is the Champion 2-year-old filly of 2019 and her 2 starts this year were super. She just won the Fury Stakes at 7 furlongs and will likely excel at the 9 furlong trip.
5. Dotted Line 83, 67, 80, 81– This Ontario-sired fellow ran a nice race to be 3rd in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes and won his last three races of 2019 including two stakes races. the Kingarvie and Frost King. The son of Signature Red is trained by Sid Attard.
*6. Merveilleux, 76, 82, 83, 72 – had a letdown in the Grade 3 Selene this past weekend but a wide trip and slow pace did not help her chances.
7. Malibu Mambo 78, 72, 62 – Fifth in his season debut at 7 furlongs, the runner-up from last year’s Coronation Futurity to Halo Again has not had a workout since June 27. He is a Stronach Stables colt trained by Kevin Attard.
8. Mighty Heart 75, 35, 64 – Lawrence Cordes’ homebred by Dramedy was an impressive maiden winner in his local debut, his 3rd career race for trainer Josie Carroll.
*9. Infinite Patience 84, 79, 71 – BC champion was third in her Woodbine debut in the Fury Stakes.
*10. Lasting Union 87, 75, 59 – Allowance winner last week at Delaware is headed to the Oaks for trainer Michael Matz.
11. Edge of Fire 81, 75, 85, 67 – Chiefswood Stables’ well-bred Curlin colt won his debut in February and has been second and third and fourth in recent allowance attempts for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.
12. Golden Wave – 78, 79, 63 – Mickey Demer’s fellow by Atreides was second to Halo Again in the Queenston Stakes. Trained by Mike DePaulo.
Others – Maiden PHANTOM DANCE looks like he will love a long race on Tapeta and he is owned by Sam-Son Farms. That farm has another maiden named Curlin’s Thrill who is readying for a start. BC-bred Capilano Canyon was third in the Chris Loseth Stakes last week at Hasting Racecourse and the Curlin maiden Muskoka Giant is nearing a start for Conrad Farms.
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