UPDATE!
LUIS CONTRERAS will ride AMI’S FLATTER in the Queen’s Plate, the winterbook favourite for the Canadian classic.
AMI’S FLATTER has been powering through some good workouts in recent weeks for trainer Josie Carroll and seems to have come back from a vacation time at the farm in fine spirits.
The Ivan Dalos homebred is by Flatter and had several good outings in the US this winter.
Contreras rode Danish Dynaformer to a win in the Plate Trial. That colt is trained by Roger Attfield, who also has Billy’s Star in the field who has been ridden by one of the barn’s main riders this year, Eurico Rosa da Silva.
TOWER OF POWER
Trainer ROGER ATTFIELD has won 3 of the last 6 stakes races at Woodbine, holds at nice pair for the game of Queen’s Plate on July 5 and, well, is a popular and friendly face around the track.
TOWER OF TEXAS is his newest stakes winner after the bay gelding zipped up the wide open spaces along the rail to win the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes – Grade 2 on Sunday on the Woodbine grass. The son of Street sense – rare Opportunity by Danzig Connection was making his grass debut and he figured to like it since siblings Silver Highlights and Street Sounds were stakes winners who loved grass.
Bred by Anderson Farms and Rod Ferguson, Tower of Texas was bought for $195,000 in 2012 at the Keeneland January sale. The gelding was entered in several other sales later in in 2012 and in 2013 but he was bought back for $90,000 and $150,000 on two occasions.
He was considered a Queen’s Plate contender last year when 4th in the Marine but he ran 14th in the Plate and then went on a 10 month hiatus.
He returned as a gelding and he has won all 3 races since he got back.
Eurico Rosa da Silva, who has taken over the lead in the jockeys standings, continues his hot hand as he rode the stretch running bay with flair.
Owner Scott Dilworth was on hand and the gelding is also owned by Tom Van Meter. The gelding has 4 wins in 12 races and he posted a 98 Beyer Figure for the time of 1:32.45.
More from Sunday
Race 1- First time starter MOON RAINBOW rallied to win her maiden for trainer Malcolm Pierce and the Sam-Son farms. The homebred by Smart Strike from Scarlet Butterfly, by Theatrical, won the 7 furlong Polytrack race under Eurico Rosa da Silva.
race 2- More Eurico – CLARKSTON HOPE was under a good hold most of the way and won this allowance/optional claiming event quite easily in 1:44.50 for 1 1/16 miles as the big favourite. The 4yo by Strut the Stage – Thirdtimesthecharm, by Bet Big was second in her first two outings of the season and she is a homebred for Bradscot Farm. Tommy Bowden trains.
race 3- URBAN FORESTER was dropped from stakes and allowances to just $16,000 claiming and he rallied from well back to win under Luis Contreras. Norm KcKnight trains the 7-year-old by Old Forester.
race 4 – First time starter NASHVILLE KNIGHT, born in Nashville Ontario at Huntington Stud Farm,which still owns, sizzled on the pace (21.96, 44.61) and won in 1:08.96, good for a 70 Beyer on the grass.
The son of Bold Executive is out of Quite A Knightmare by Ascot Knight and he was well prepared by the Reade Baker stable to keep on leading the way while under pressure.
Jim McAleney rode.
race 5- QUIXOTIC DREAM was a nightmare for her rivals in this maiden $25,000 claiming race as she took off and opened up a huge lead, went in 21.75, 44.27 and kept on going for her first lifetime score in her first race in 11 months; She was well prepared by trainer Dan O’Callagha for owner Margal Farms. She was bred by Brenda Seifreid in Ontario and is a daughter of Latent Heat.
Steve Bahen rode.
race 6- INTERPOL caught longshot speedster Honorable Guest in the late stages of this allowance/optional claiming race at 9 furlongs on turf for his 2nd win of the season. The promising colt by English Channel was bred by Richard Lister and he is owned by JMJ Stable, trained by Sid Attard. Jesse Campbell rode.
The $90,000 yearling purchase was 2nd in last year’s Breeders’ Stakes and is a very nice prospect for grass races this year. His time of 1:47.30 was an 87 Beyer Figure.
race 7 – a $10,000 claiming race went to RAGING MANE in his first race off the claim for Scott Fairlie and Ace Racing. Michelle Rainford rode the 5yo gelding to his rallying win in 1:45.01.
race 9 – a $20,000 claiming/allowance race went to class dropper BEAR’S PROFIT who won for Bear Stables and was the 2nd winner on the day for trainer Reade Baker.
Luis Contreras rode the 4yo who was claimed.
race 10 – Attractive filly TRIP OVER THE LINE is 2 for 2 in her career and the daughter of Leonnatus Anteas – Line Buster by K O Punch won this 6 furlong allowance for Ontario sired gals by a head over Pisco . She is a Paul Buttigieg homebred and Emma-Jayne Wilson rode.
QUEEN’S PLATE BITS AND PIECES
Queen’s Plate Possible entrants
The connections of KINGSPORT are still trying to decide if the 3yo will go into the Plate after his 2nd place finished on the weekend and 70 Beyer Figure. The Milwaukee Brew colt is owned by Goldmart Farm and Royal Laser. Sid Attard trains.
AMI’S FLATTER has been powering along in 2 recent workouts and perhaps has come back from the farm a renewed dude. He was the winterbook favourite for the Plate, fared well in the US, by-passed the derby but then bombed in the Marine Stakes.
A large field is predicted for the Plate and the filly Academic will be supplemented for $25,0000.
Lexie Lou was supplemented last year for $25,000.
(update on Ami’s Flattre, above!)
Danish Dynaformer – the Plate Trial winner is doing well as of Sunday according to trainer Roger Attfield –
Conquest Curlinate – Mark Casse trainee had a good run in Trial
Conquest Boogaloo- terrible trips in 2 straight races.hard to know if he is good enough
Billy’s Star – terrible trip in the Trial..highly regarded
Breaking Lucky – Reade Baker trainee lightly raced
Ami’s Flatter – Josie Carroll colt has been on the farm for a freshening
Shaman Ghost – the Marine Stakes winner worked in 1:11 last week, remains serious
Bear at Last – Bear Stables scored upset in Oaks, this colt has shown flashes of brilliance
Portree – improving, lightly raced from Chiefswood
Academic – filly won Oaks at 66-1
Field of Courage – improving Marchfield colt was flat in Trial
Kingsport * still deciding –
R U watching Bud* jarred up after Trial
Season Ticket *ran in Woodbine Oaks
Conquest Typhoon* has been sick
London Tower* may go to Bison City
Milwaukee Mist * out of town
Unbridled Juan* out of town
