Two Ontario-bred stakes-winning 2-year-olds from 2021 open their sophomore season at Woodbine, May 1, against some fast and fit American shippers in the six-furlong Woodstock Stakes.
IRONSTONE, a two-time added-money winner in 2021 and finalist for Champion 2-Year-Old Colt at the Sovereign Awards, has drawn post four in the nine-horse field for owners Tequesta Racing and Jupiter Leasing. William Armata trains the grey colt by Mr. Speaker bred by Kingview Farms. Ironstone flew to stakes wins in the restricted Simcoe and Clarendon Stakes, flaunting his natural speed. He then stretched out in distance well to be a close second in the Display Stakes at seven furlongs and second in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes at 1 1/16 miles to eventual champion God of Love.
A Queen’s Plate eligible, Ironstone has picked up his speed in recent workout times. Ademar Santos is his regular rider.
SILENT RUNNER, a son of Silent Name (Jpn) owned and bred by C. Scott Abbott and trained by Mike Doyle, won the restricted Frost King Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs in his juvenile finale. He had previously been second to Ironstone in the Clarendon and second in the Ontario Racing Stakes. The dark bay, who starts from post nine, has had some fast five furlong workout times getting ready. David Moran rides the Queen’s Plate nominee.
The opposition for the pair is formidable with six fast shippers coming in from the US including three-time stakes winner NOBALS (Noble Mission), one of two fast ones from the barn of trainer Larry Rivelli. Both runners get Lasix for the first time. Nobals recently won the Animal Kingdom Stakes on the Tapeta at Turfway Park. ONE TIMER (Trappe Shot), winner of the Victoria Stakes at Woodbine and Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita, finished 2021 with a ninth place finish, beaten two lengths, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) at Del Mar.
DOCTOR JEFF, winner of the Atlantic Beach Stakes on turf at Belmont in November, comes in for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, Jamestown Stakes winner DETERMINED KINGDOM, stakes placed behind Nobals in his last two races is at Woodbine for trainer Phil Schoenthal, and Steve Asmussen sends ALL IN SYNC, a two-time winner by Maclean’s Music.
Trainer Roger Attfield has a new student in his barn: UNRAPTURED, a three-time winner from Golden Gate and Chetram Mohabir’s VICTORY JET, second in his season debut with a whopping 83 Beyer Figure, completes the field.
The Woodstock is one of Ontario racing’s oldest stakes events, first run in 1885. The race was not run in a number of years and this is the 125th running.
Wando (2003) and Lyford Cay (1957) are the last two horses to win the Woodstock and then later win the Queen’s Plate.
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