Telekinesis got a late start to his career, making an impressive debut at the Fair Grounds on February 9. And while the Ghostzapper colt makes his first Woodbine appearance with just three starts under his belt, his burgeoning talent should move the faithful to make him a solid choice in Saturday’s $125,000 Plate Trial Stakes.
The Plate Trial, a 1 1/8 mile race for Canadian-bred three-year-olds, attracted a field of seven. The $1 million Queen’s Plate, at 1 1/4 miles, will be run on June 30.
“He’s an exceptional horse,” said Mark Casse, who conditions Telekinesis for Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Stables.
“We’ve felt early on, even as a two-year-old, that he was head of the class but he had some minor setbacks.
“The Queen’s Plate has always been a big goal.”
Following his victorious six-furlong opener, Telekinesis stretched out to 1 1/16 miles and ran third behind a pair of older rivals.
“I had to make a decision,” said Casse. “I had to either take him out of New Orleans or run against older horses.
“When I asked Mrs. Banke what she wanted to do next, she said she would really like to try to win the Lexington (which was sponsored by Stonestreet).”
In the 1 1/16 mile Lexington, Telekinesis raced forwardly and led to deep stretch before just failing to contain the late charge of My Boy Jack, who came back to finish fifth in the Kentucky Derby.
“He ran really well,” said Casse.
Telekinesis left Keeneland in late May and raised some eyebrows in his first breeze on the Tapeta, going in :45.40 under new rider Patrick Husbands.
“We feel that he likes the Tapeta just fine,” said Casse, who won the 2013 Plate Trial with Dynamic Sky.
Husbands won Plate Trials with Check Your Soul in 2011 and Pete’s Sake in 2000.
Locally-based Silent Sting and Aheadbyacentury will be looking to spoil the favourite’s coming-out party.
Stronach Stables’ Silent Sting, bred by Phoenix Rising Farms and trained by Sid Attard, made four starts here last year, all in Ontario-sired company, capped by a closing score in the 1 1/16 mile Kingarvie on December 9.
“Right after that race, he went to the farm for five weeks,” said Attard. “Then he came down to me in Florida, to get ready to run.”
After working well at Gulfstream, Silent Sting made an impressive sophomore bow here when rallying for a neck score in the seven-furlong Queenston for Ontario-breds on April 22.
That start stands as his latest coming into the Plate Trial.
“He’s not a big horse,” said Attard. “He needs time, to freshen up.
“I’ve worked him four times since then. He’s doing really good.”
Luis Contreras, who won back-to-back Plate Trials with Danish Dynaformer (2015) and Amis Gizmo (2016), retains the mount on Silent Sting.
Attard won the 2007 Plate Trial with Jiggs Cozz.
Aheadbyacentury, winner of the 1 1/8 mile Coronation Futurity over fellow Canadian-breds last fall, will be returning to that distance as he looks to continue his forward progress in his third start as a three-year-old.
Trained by John Ross, Aheadbyacentury wintered at Payson Park and was back in action here April 22 with a decent fifth-place finish in the Queenston.
Three weeks later, the Midnight Lute colt moved into open company for the Grade 3 Marine and was the top Canadian-bred to finish as a closing third at the 1 1/16 miles.
“He came out of his last race really nice, and I loved the way he trained back after it,” said Ross, who also owns Aheadbyacentury in partnership with Jack of Hearts Racing.
Aheadbyacentury had returned to breeze five furlongs in :59 here May 25, going slower than sprint stakes-winning sprint stablemate Lokinforpursemonee (:58.40).
Rafael Hernandez, who had guided Aheadbyacentury to his Coronation tally, returned to the fold that day after having a prior commitment for the Marine.
“I really like the fact that Hernandez is back and I like the fact the colt is stretching out even more,” said Ross. “A mile and an eighth is still his forte.”
Ross also noted that Aheadbyacentury will race without blinkers for the first time.
“He’s matured,” said Ross. “He can relax a little more going long.”
Ross has won Plate Trials with Shaws Creek (2002) and Catahoula Parish (1999). Hernandez upset last year’s Plate Trial aboard Guy Caballero.
Rose’s Vision, who was well-supported at 2.80-1 in the Marine, had some trouble there and finished a non-threatening sixth under Hernandez.
That outing was the first on a synthetic surface for the Chiefswood Stable homebred who is conditioned by Stuart Simon and put together back-to-back wins on grass at Gulfstream and Keeneland this year.
“He didn’t get a very good go last time,” said Simon. “We’ll see if his turf form transfers to Tapeta.”
Gary Boulanger picks up the mount.
Scrapper, conditioned by Todd Pletcher, is shipping in from Saratoga for the Plate Trial. The Orb colt broke his maiden when traveling about 7 1/2 furlongs on turf in his third career start this winter at Gulfstream and then ran second there in the listed English Channel over 1 1/16 miles on that surface.
Eurico Rosa da Silva, winner of back-to-back Plate Trials and Queen’s Plates with Eye of the Leopard and Big Red Mike in 2009 and 2010, picks up the mount on Scrapper.
Pletcher won Plate Trials with We Miss Artie (2014) and Pete’s Sake (2000).
Rounding out the field will be Absolution and Boyhood Dream, who finished a nose apart when 1-2 in a 1 1/16 mile first-level allowance/optional claiming race here May 16.
$125,000 Plate Trial Stakes
Post/Horse/Jockey/Trainer
1/Scrapper/Eurico Rosa da Silva/Todd Pletcher
2/Telekinesis/Patrick Husbands/Mark Casse
3/Rose’s Vision/Gary Boulanger/Stuart Simon
4/Absolution/Alan Garcia/Tony Gattellaro
5/Aheadbyacentury/Rafael Hernandez/John Ross
6/Silent Sting/Luis Contreras/Sid Attard
7/Boyhood Dream/Jalon Samuel/Mike Maker
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
