Stronach Stables’ River Rush, confidently ridden by Jim McAleney, broke his maiden in style Sunday afternoon, crushing a field of Queen’s Plate hopefuls in the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine in track record time of 1:48.97 for the mile and one-eighth test.
Despite breaking from the outside post 11, River Rush, a 21-1 longshot, was guided immediately to the rail and trailed the field for the first six furlongs. McAleney stuck to the fence throughout, saving ground, then when the field turned for home, urged River Rush into high gear, passing pacesetter Incredicat and going on to a five and one-quarter length romp.
“This horse ran tremendous for me,” said McAleney, “(Trainer) Reade (Baker) gave me some instruction, if you can save some ground it would really help, so I opted to do as he’d suggested. We had such a wonderful trip. It was just great.”
The homebred son of Orientate-Sweet Tart was making just his third career start after not racing as a two-year-old. The bay colt debuted at Gulfstream Park on the grass in March but finished eighth. He was then shipped to Woodbine and turned in a solid effort on April 29, finishing a closing second to Awesome Overture in a mile and one-sixteenth Polytrack contest, two and three-quarter lengths behind. Then came today’s smashing performance, which eclipsed the former mark of 1:49.19 set in June of 2009 by Catch the Luck.
Incredicat, winner of the Wando Stakes in April, went immediately to the front under Alex Solis, while being stalked by the lukewarm 3-1 favourite Beeker Street, with Patrick Husbands, cutting out fractions of :23.98, :47.36 and 1:10.89 for six furlongs.
As the field approached the far turn, Incredicat still held a two length advantage, but Classic Bryce was looming up on the outside, while River Rush and McAleney were kicking into high gear along the rail.
As the field of three-year-old Canadian-breds swung into the stretch, after the mile was reached in 1:35.99, River Rush cruised to the front on the inside and widened under a drive to the wire. Incredicat held for second, a length in front of Classic Bryce. Beeker Street faded to seventh.
Twenty-five Plate Trial winners have gone on to win the Queen’s Plate, including three of the last four…Not Bourbon (2008), Eye of the Leopard (2009) and Big Red Mike (2010). Now, River Rush, who came out of nowhere, will likely be one of the choices for the $1 million Queen’s Plate, affectionately known as the ‘Gallop for the Guineas’, Sunday, June 24 at Woodbine.
Added trainer Baker, “(We were) hung up on the outside at 20-1 with a maiden. I thought he’d close well but I didn’t think he would be that quick.”
Stronach has won three Queen’s Plates, Basqueian in 1994, and Awesome Again in 1997, while McAleney and Baker have yet to win the coveted Canadian classic, Canada’s most famous horse race.
River Rush, who earned $90,000 for his first win, paid $44.50, $18.80 and $11.20, combining with Incredicat ($10.30, $7.80) for a $603.30 (11-1) exactor. An 11-1-3 (Classic Bryce, $7.40) triactor paid a huge $8,053.90 triactor, while a $1 Superfecta, with Big Creek, returned a whopping $19,593.85.
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