The first Woodstock Stakes was run in 1885 at Old Woodbine on the lakeshore, east of the city of Toronto, at a distance of 1 1/8 miles.
Today, the Woodstock is a six-furlong dash for three-year-olds at Woodbine on the Tapeta surface and it is worth $125,000.
A field of just six, including two supplements, will compete in the 123rd Woodstock (the race was not held on 15 different occasions) and there are three Mark Casse trainees and three shippers.
One of the invaders and supplements, NEW YORK THUNDER, trained by Jorge Delgado, figures to be heavily bet as he is unbeaten in two five-furlong dashes at Gulfstream Park (turf and Tapeta). The bay colt by Nyquist is owned by AMO Racing USA and Ricardo Santana, Jr. will be in town to ride.
New York Thunder has not raced since December and has had workouts in Florida and Kentucky. He will be racing with Lasix for the first time. Delgado, who has only been training for about six years and is quickly becoming a top trainer, will be starting his first horse at Woodbine.
Bakster Farm, LLC and trainer Christophe Clement have entered SHIP THE GOODS, a son of Munnings who is a full brother to multiple stakes-winning sprinter Boldor. Ship the Goods has won two of three races in Florida including a recent five-furlong turf dash. Kazushi Kimura is named to ride. OPPOSITES ATTRACT is the third shipper and second supplement and he is a maiden winner in for trainer Michael Trombetta.
The three Casse trainees are headed by stakes winner GRAN SPIRITED, who won the Simcoe Stakes last summer for Hester Sport. The son of Shaman Ghost comes off a winter vacation, as do stablemates STAHONOR GOODSIDE and NINETYFOUR EXPOS.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
