R U Watchingbud, who unseated rider Emma-Jayne Wilson last time out in the Plate Trial, makes his return to the races in Wednesday night’s $125,000 Deputy Minister Stakes, at Woodbine.
Owned and trained by John Ross, the dark bay son of Kentucky Bear collided with the ill-fated Danzig Moon down the back straight of the Plate Trial, sending horse and rider to the ground.
“The circumstances were tough,” recalled Wilson. “Eurico’s horse (Billy’s Star) veered out in front of me, and I ducked in. I thought Eurico was the one in trouble but it was the other horse (Danzig Moon) that I did not see until it was too late. We made contact and I was dislodged. I was thankful, at least, that Julien (Leparoux, aboard Danzig Moon), myself and my horse were okay. It was a difficult moment.”
Sent to post at 11-1 in the Plate Trial (June 14), R U Watchingbud was a longshot in a race the connections were hoping would lead the Kentucky Bear colt to the Queen’s Plate. Instead, R U Watchingbud was given time to recover from bumps and bruises and returned to the work tab on July 1 covering three furlongs in :37 flat.
R U Watchingbud tipped his readiness to race on July 12 when he breezed five furlongs over the Woodbine main in a bullet 1:00.20, best of 38 efforts at the distance on the day.
“John did the right thing giving him time to recover and he’s come back bouncing,” said Wilson.
Purchased for $32,000 at the 2013 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale, R U Watchingbud paid immediate dividends in his juvenile campaign posting a record of 1-1-2 from four starts, including third-place efforts in the Victoria and Clarendon Stakes, while banking just shy of $100,000 in purse earnings.
R U Watchingbud started his sophomore season with a fourth-place run at Keeneland on April 9 and made his return to Woodbine a winning one with a 1 1/4-length score in the seven furlong Queenston Stakes ahead of Deputy Minister rival Goodoldhockeygame. He followed that effort with a game fifth-place effort in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes won by Queen’s Plate champ Shaman Ghost.
Wilson believes a return to sprinting will suit the dark bay colt.
“The Ontario-sired program puts some restrictions on races so you can find these added-money spots with a bit of class relief,” said Wilson. “We’re cutting back to seven-eighths after a couple two-turn races, and we were questioning whether he wanted that distance or not. I think this is a good spot to rev him back up.”
To win the Deputy Minister, a seven furlong ‘Poly’ sprint for Ontario-sired sophomores, R U Watchingbud will have to topple a field of six that includes the swift Seffeara.
Seffeara, trained by Steve Owens and to be ridden by Gary Boulanger, arrives at the Deputy Minister from a convincing 3 1/4-length score in the off-the-turf Bold Ruckus Stakes. The bay son of Old Forester is a homebred for Owens’ Empress Stables and boasts a record of 4-1-1 from eight starts. He won the Clarendon Stakes in just his second lifetime start.
Trainer Bob Tiller will saddle Frank Di Giulio Jr. homebreds Goodoldhockeygame and Three Ring Circus in the seven furlong test.
Goodoldhockeygame rallied from last of seven to complete the exactor behind Seffeara in the Bold Ruckus and also in the Queenston behind R U Watchingbud. The Old Forester chestnut won the Bull Page Stakes as a juvenile and is looking for his first win of the meet. Justin Stein will ride.
Three Ring Circus, a daughter of Where’s the Ring, sports a record of 2-2-0 from seven starts. She won two in a row to complete her juvenile campaign including a smart 3 1/4-length score in a six furlong allowance sprint. Last time out, while making her fourth start of the season, Three Ring Circus missed by a narrow neck in an optional claiming sprint.
Kingsport, last year’s Kingarvie Stakes champ, and Super Colerosa, a three-time winner, complete a talented field.
The Deputy Minister is slated as Race 6 (9:17 p.m.) on Wednesday night’s eight-race card. First post time is 6:45 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIBet.Com.
FIELD FOR THE $125,000 DEPUTY MINISTER STAKES
POST / HORSE / JOCKEY / TRAINER / ODDS
1 / R U Watchingbud / Emma-Jayne Wilson / John Ross / 6-1
2 / Kingsport / Patrick Husbands / Sid Attard / 10-1
3 / Super Colerosa / Luis Contreras / Mike DePaulo / 12-1
4 / Goodoldhockeygame / Justin Stein / Bob Tiller / 5-2
5 / Three Ring Circus / Jesse Campbell / Bob Tiller / 9-2
6 / Seffeara / Gary Boulanger / Steve Owens / 7-5
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