Riker remained undefeated with a gate-to-wire score to capture Saturday’s $125,000 Colin Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Nick Gonzalez for Tucci Stables, the dark bay son of Include-Desviacion arrived at the six furlong ‘Poly’ sprint for juveniles from a 1/2-length score in a maiden allowance event on July 5.
Sent to post at odds of 8-1 in the Colin, Riker broke sharply under rider Jesse Campbell and set splits of :22.50 and :45.08 with Arlington Park shipper The Zip Zip Man, piloted by Florent Geroux, pressing the early pace.
Hollywood Hideaway, the 3-2 mutuel favourite off a win by disqualification in the Victoria Stakes, advanced through the turn along along with first time starter Tizzarunner, but neither could reach the top two who dueled to the wire in a driving finish. Riker stopped the clock in 1:09.44. Tizzarunner won the battle for show by 1 3/4-lengths over Hollywood Hideaway.
Campbell did not expect to be on the lead in the Colin.
“He broke a step slow the first time out and I actually had to use him a bit to go after the pace horse. Today, we were supposed to let speed go, but he made up my mind for me real quick and we went to ‘Plan B’,” said Campbell. “The horse prevailed. He fought real hard down the lane and he’s just a neat little horse.”
Riker, bred in Kentucky by Turner Breeders, banked $75,000 in victory while remaining undefeated in two career starts.
He paid $18.80, $6.80 and $4, combining with The Zip Zip Man ($3.80, $2.70) for a $57 (1-2) exactor. A 1-2-4 triactor (Tizzarunner, $3.60 to show) was worth $204.20, while a $1 Superfecta [1-2-4-7 (Hollywood Hideaway)] came back $204.95.
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