PLATE ELIGIBLES IN ACTION
Sprinter field for Queenston may not spawn a Plate starter
61ST QUEENSTON – 7 furlongs, Woodbine
Four Queen’s Plate winners in the last 40 years took the Queenston on their way to the Plate:
Not Bourbon
Woodcarver
Victor Cooley
Regal Intention
Today’s Queenston Stakes at Woodbine showcases some nice Canadian-bred 3-year-olds, some of which may have aspirations of making the Queen’s Plate.
The race is 7 furlongs, however, and most of the entrants today are horses who will be sticking to short distances.
heavily favoured LOKINFORPURSEMONEE could be as low as 3 to 5 based on his big win in the Woodstock and rapid running time. The horse he edged, Yorkton, also a sprint type, is a contender as well.
INterestingly, Woodbridge, from the Gus Schickedanz stable is out of a mare who is a full sister to Woodcarver, a Queenston – Plate winer.
Woodbirdge has won at 1 1/16 iles and could use this race as a move towards the Plate.
Earlier in the day, AVIE’S MESA is one to watch (race 7) in an allowance race against older horses. Owned and bred by Ivan Dalos, the Sky Mesa colt is yet another Plate hopeful for Dalos, who came so close last year with Amis Gizmo.
FRIDAY WOODBINE WRAP
The day began with an exciting longshot winner in a small field, 33 to 1 shot FLYING ECHO, an overlay simply because class plunger Impetuous Act was 2 to 5, edged out the win over Uncorked Spirit in this 1 1/16 mile race for $10,000 claiming.
Owned and trained by Gary Chudobiak, Flying Echo was making his second stat of the year and he was ridden by Fanny Crasaz. He added blinkers for this race and the 8-year-old was notching his 5th career win.
Race 2 went to Winview Racing Stables’ MAHOGANY CAT, the favourite, who won this maiden claiming race for $8,000 by 4 lengths for trainer Andrew Smith. The filly was adding blinkers for the first time and Rafael Hernandez rode. Winview is the name of Joey Gee Thoroughbreds’ farm, the former Gardiner Farms.
Smith is now 2 for 3 at the meeting.
Race 3- The big grey filly LOVIN SPOON PHIL rallied to win this 1 1/16 miles race for $40,000/optional claiming in her season debut for Frank DiGiiulio Jr and trainer Bob Tiller. The Philanthropist gal is a 4yo homebred and he is 2 for 5 in her career. Eurico da Silva rode.
race 4- BET ON MIKE ADDED BLINKERS (3rd horse to do so on the card and win) and Lasix and wore down well hyped beginner Rock n’ Candy to win a maiden race for $25,000 claiming with a whopping 80 Beyer Figure. The Florida bred by Biondetti is owned by Iron Horse Performance and David Waque and trained by Roger Attfield.
This was the first of 3 winners on the day for jockey Jesse Campbell.
race 5- a 410,00 claiming race went to MOON DOOGIE, trained by the red-hot Scott Fairlie and ridden by Michelle Rainford. The stable was netting its 3rd win of the season and this gelding was making his 2nd start of the year. Fairlie, who was not sure how long he was going to stay in racing at Woodbine when interviewed last year, also came close with Luna d’Avril in the last race, a filly who was flying late in her first outing off the Fairlie claim.
Race 6- Roger Attfield struck again, this time with Bill Graham’s Speightstown filly MISS ADELE, who was beaten almost 30 lengths in her debut at Keeneland. The grey gal led all the way under Rafael Hernandez to win this maiden allowance.
race 7- Th Original Scotty roared from off the pace to win for the 9th time in his career in race 7 for trainer Norm McKnight, his 5th win of the meeting. The 9-year-old horse won for $11,500 claiming and was claimed by Solo racing. Th Original Scotty has made all 40 starts for his breeder Bruno Schickedanz. in that same race, CHief Chato was also claimed from the race by Jim Enson.
Claiming has been brisk early in the season.
Race 8 -Will She? Yep, she did and WILL SHE won this allowance race with an 86 Beyer Figure, dragging Jesse Campbell around the track to win this 6 furlong allowance race in 1:09.60, good for a whopping 86 Beyer Figure. The Wando filly is a Gus Schicedanz/Mike Keogh miss who won the Fanfreluche Stakes last year. This was her 2nd race with Lasix.
Race 9 – Gabe Grossberg’s class-dropping REVERSE went forward and won this $20,00 claiming race in her 2nd outing of the season. The Colonel John filly, a homebred was one of 2 claimed in the race by Alex Patyewich, who also took Conquer the Course.
