QUEENSTON STAKES
At one time a 5 1/2 furlong dirt race at Fort Erie (when it was inaugurated in 1956), the Queenston no doubt is named for the area bear that track (Queenston Lewiston bridge etc.).
It grew into a spring event at Woodbine that a lot of trainers of Canadian bred sophomores would use to get the seasons started, plus, if they thought they were Queen’s Plate candidates, it was a good primer.
Only four Queenston winners have gone on to win the Plate since 1980 – Regal Intention, Victor Cooley, Woodcarver and Not Bourbon.
Recent winners of the Queenston have included strictly sprinters: SPEIGHTSONG, BEEKER STREET, BLACK HORNET and BEARS CHILL.
Let’s see what this year’s edition brings:
Race 1 – POST Time – 1:00 PM
First Half Daily Double / Exactor /.20 Triactor / .20 Pick 3 (Races 1-2-3)
Woodbine CLAIMING $8,000 – $7,500
Purse $16,500. (Plus $3,300 – State Bred) (Plus $6,600 – Other Sources) (Plus $600 – Other Sources). For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward Which Have Never Won Two Races. Three Year Olds, 118 Lbs.; Older, 123 Lbs. Non-winners Of A Race In 2015 Allowed 2 Lbs. Claiming Price $8,000, if for $7,500, allowed 2 Lbs. (Races Where Entered For $6,250Or Less Not Considered For Allowances). Six And One Half Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
2 Declansnumberone (ON) 4/F L $7,500 E Wilson M J Doyle 7/2
1a Flight Path (ON) 4/F L $7,500 J Stein N De Toro 2/1
6 Ambrosia’s Melody (ON) 7/M $8,000 G Boulanger D E Rombis 5/2
5 Elegance Rules (ON) 4/F L $7,500 J McAleney A R Katryan 8/1
1 Radiant Miss (KY) 5/M L $7,500 S Ryan N De Toro 2/1
3 Wind Charm (ON) 4/F L $7,500 S R Bahe J Cardella 8/1
4 La Nena Del Valle (ON) 4/F L $8,000 D Garcia M Maver 6/1
Race 2 – POST Time – 1:32 PM
Second Half Daily Double / Exactor /.20 Triactor / .20 Pick 3 (Races 2-3-4) .20 Pick 5 (Races 2-3-4-5-6)
Woodbine MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
Purse $55,900. (Plus $22,400 – Other Sources) (Plus $11,200 – State Bred) (Plus $9,975 – Other Sources). For Maidens, Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward. Weight, 122 Lbs. Six And One Half Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
3 Gypsy Princess (ON) 4/F L J M Campbell S C Attard 9/5
2 Spring Spirit (ON) 4/F L P Husbands M E Casse 8/5
5 Comtesse (GB) 4/F L Contreras J Carroll 4/1
6 Missile Threat (ON) 4/F O Moreno L Silvera 10/1
1 Kentuckiana (KY) 4/F L A Garcia N Nosowenko 6/1
4 Ring for Maddie (ON) 4/F S R Bahen C A Belaire 20/1
Equipment Changes: 5 – Comtesse (GB) – Blinkers off
Race 3 – POST Time – 2:04 PM
Exactor /.20 Triactor /.20 Pick 3 (Races 3-4-5) / .20 Superfecta
Woodbine CLAIMING $20,000 – $19,000
Purse $24,100. (Plus $4,800 – State Bred) (Plus $9,600 – Other Sources) (Plus $3,675 – Other Sources). For Three Year Olds And Upward Which Have Never Won Two Races. Three Year Olds, 118 Lbs.; Older, 123 Lbs. Non-winners Of A Race In 2015 Allowed 2 Lbs. Claiming Price $20,000, if for $19,000, allowed 2 Lbs. (Races Where Entered For $16,000 Or Less Not Considered For Allowances). Five Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
4 Crescent (IL) 4/G L $20,000 A Garcia B J Minshall 15/1
7 Johnny Whitebird (ON) 4/G L $19,000 E Wilson M R Frostad 2/1
2 Executive One (ON) 3/G L $20,000 E R Da Silva R J Biamonte 5/2
3 Where’s the Widget (ON)3/G L $20,000 O Moreno R J Biamonte 3/1
1 Wannabitabrew (ON) 3/F L $20,000 E Ramsammy N Squires 8/1
1a Circle the World (KY )3/F L $20,000 E Ramsammy N Squires 8/1
5 Azimut (ON) 4/G L $19,000 E Smilovsky A Brnjas 6/1
6 Denim Bay (ON) 5/G L $19,000 D Moran P M Buttigieg 15/1
Race notes: Johnny Whitebird tipped his hand in his opener this year and is strictly the one to beat. Crescent showed so much early last year that he might be sharp off the layoff for what should be a powerful Minshall stable this season.
Race 4 – POST Time – 2:37 PM
Exactor /.20 Triactor /.20 Pick 3 (Races 4-5-6) $100,000 Guaranteed .20 Pick 4 (Races 4-5-6-7) / .20 Superfecta
Woodbine CLAIMING $6,250 – $6,000
Purse $16,000. (Plus $3,200 – State Bred) (Plus $6,400 – Other Sources) (Plus $600 – Other Sources). For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward. Three Year Olds, 118 Lbs.; Older, 123 Lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since April 2 Allowed 2 Lbs. Claiming Price $6,250, if for $6,000, allowed 2 Lbs. (Races Where Entered For $5,000 Or Less Not Considered For Allowances). Five Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
3 Mays Treasuretrove (ON) 7/M L $6,000 L Contreras M P De Paulo 2/1
9 Dixie’s Vow (ON) 6/M L $6,250 D Moran D M O’Callaghan 20/1
6 Solina Bambolina (ON) 4/F L $6,250 G Olguin J Ensom 9/5
1 Its a Gizmo (ON) 4/F L $6,000 J Stein N De Toro 10/1
1a Janbear (ON) 5/M L $6,000 S Ryan N De Toro 10/1
2 Swingwiththering (ON) 8/M L $6,000 S P Husbands A Hinds 20/1
4 Golden Abby (ON) 6/M L $6,000 J Crawford R Armata 6/1
5 Executive Class (ON) 4/F $6,000 J I Alderson C Jolin 20/1
7 Cutie Girl (KY) 8/M L $6,000 M Moore B Corbett 20/1
8 Canadian Lady (ON) 7/M L $6,250 D Garcia jm Hardy 12/1
10 April Halo (KY) 6/M L $6,000 K Johnson A Crook 15/1
Race 5 – POST Time – 3:10 PM
Exactor /.20 Triactor /.20 Superfecta /.20 Pick 3 (Races 5-6-7)
Woodbine MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000 – $9,500
Purse $18,000. (Plus $7,200 – Other Sources) (Plus $3,600 – State Bred) (Plus $900 – Other Sources). For Maidens, Three Years Old And Upward. , 118 Lbs.; Older, 123 Lbs. Claiming Price $10,000, if for $9,500, allowed 2 Lbs. Six And One Half Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
3 Best Offer (ON) 3/G L $9,500 T Wong M J Doyle 6/1
8 Alphabetical Order (ON) 4/G L $9,500 G Boulanger M W Wright 5/2
6 Rocky Ruckus (ON) 5/G L $9,500 J Crawford J M Hardy 15/1
1 Mr. Abundance (KY) 3/C L $9,500 E Ramsammy M P De Paulo 7/2
2 Our Bro Lorenzo (ON) 4/G L $10,000 S Chernetz D Cotey 20/1
4 Itwillallworkout (ON) 4/G L $9,500 S R Bahen J Cardella 12/1
5 Badjeros Boy (ON) 3/G1 L $10,000 J M Campbell N Squires 2/1
7 Executable (ON) 4/C $9,500 J I Alderson C Jolin 20/1
First Start Since Reported as Gelding: 5 – Badjeros Boy * (THIS DOES NOT MEAN THE HORSE WAS GELDED SINCE HIS LAST RACE)
Equipment Changes: 1 – Mr. Abundance – Blinkers off
Race 6 – POST Time – 3:42 PM
Exactor /.20 Triactor /.20 Pick 3 ( Races 6-7-8) / .20 Superfecta
Woodbine CLAIMING $20,000 – $19,000
Purse $25,900. (Plus $10,400 – Other Sources) (Plus $5,200 – State Bred) (Plus $3,675 – Other Sources). For Three Year Olds And Upward. Three Year Olds, 118 Lbs.; Older, 123 Lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since April 2 Allowed 2 Lbs. Claiming Price $20,000, if for $19,000, allowed 2 Lbs. (Races Where Entered For $16,000 Or Less Not Considered For Allowances). Six And One Half Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
6 Lord of Greatness (FL) 9/H L $20,000 M Moore R P Tiller 4/1
2 Solo Player (ON) 6/G L $19,000 A Garcia N McKnight 2/1
8 Colleen’s Sailor (ON) 6/G L $20,000 L Contreras R Griffith 3/1
5 Bathsheba Station (ON) 7/G L $19,000 D Moran G D Cox 8/1
1 The Best Glacier (FL) 7/G L $20,000 O Moreno A F McPherson 20/1
3 Golden Ridge (ON) 6/H L $20,000 E R Da Silva F Armata 12/1
4 Pegu (ON) 6/G L $20,000 H M Vanek N Mileni Jr. 10/1
7 Jade Dragon (ON) 5/G L $20,000 T Pizarro P Parente 6/1
Equipment Changes: 3 – Golden Ridge – Bar shoe
Race notes: SOLO PLAYER is going for 3 wins this year already. I went with the old timer, Lord of Greatness, who runs so well when he is fresh.
Race 7 – POST Time – 4:14 PM
Exactor /.20 Triactor /.20 Pick 3 (Races 7-8-9) /.20 Pick 4 (Races 7-8-9-10) .20 Superfecta
Woodbine ALLOWANCE
Purse $58,600. (Plus $23,400 – Other Sources) (Plus $11,700 – State Bred) (Plus $9,975 – Other Sources). For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward Which Have Never Won A Race Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Or Restricted Allowance Or Which Have Never Won Two Races. Three Year Olds, 118 Lbs.; Older, 123 Lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Other Than Claiming Since April 2 Allowed 2 Lbs. Five Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
7 Town Grad (KY) 4/F J McAleney R Baker 5/2
4 Marcian (ON) 6/M L E Wilson D C MacRae 6/1
6 Scindia (KY) 3/F L J M Campbell R P Tiller 8/1
8 Ida Bambina (ON) 4/F L J Stein M P De Paulo 3/1
1 Tahnee (ON) 5/M L E R Da Silva M Fournier 4/1
2 Gagaoveryou (KY) 4/F L L Contreras J Mattine 12/1
3 Vinolicious (ON) 3/F L P Husbands J Cardella 12/1
5 Simply Belonging (KY 5/M L D Moran N Nosowenko 10/1
Equipment Changes: 3 – Vinolicious – Blinkers off
Race 8 – POST Time – 4:50 PM Queenston S.
Exactor /.20 Triactor /.20 Superfecta / .20 Pick 3 (Races 8-9-10)
Purse $150,000. For Three-Year-Olds, Foaled In Canada. By subscription of $150 each which shall accompany the nomination and an additional $1,500, when making entry. The purse to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 2% to fifth, 1% tosixth 1% to seventh, 1% to eighth. Weight: 124 Lbs. Non-winners of a Sweepstakes of $60,000 three times, allowed 3 Lbs.; Of a Sweepstakes of $60,000 twice, 5 Lbs.; Of a Sweepstakes of $60,000 once, 7 Lbs.; Of a race other than maiden or claiming or restricted allowance, 9 Lbs. (No Canadian Bred Allowance) Final entries to be made through the entry box at the closing time then in effect for overnight events. A supplemental nomination may be made no later than the time of final entry, by a non-refundable fee of $3,000, which includes the entry fee. (Closed with 20 Nominations) *Plus up to $13,650 Ontario Sired/Ontario Bred Breeder Awards. *$30,000 of this purse has been provided through the Thoroughbred Improvement Program. Seven Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
4 Hammerstein (ON) 3/C L L Contreras D D Banach 4/1
2 R U Watchingbud (ON) 3/C L E Wilson J A Ross 12/1
8 Midnight Trace (ON) 3/G L A Garcia H G Motion 20/1
1 Conquest Boogaloo (ON) 3/C L P Husbands M E Casse 3/1
3 Goodoldhockeygame (ON) 3/G L J Stein R P Tiller 12/1
5 Jacks Escarpment (ON) 3/C L J M Campbell N Gonzalez 2/1
6 Imperial Dream (ON) 3/C L E R Da Silva N Gonzalez 6/1
7 Phil’s Cocktail (ON) 3/G L D Moran J P LeBlanc, Jr. 8/1
Equipment Changes: 3 – Goodoldhockeygame – Blinkers On;8 – Midnight Trace – Blinkers On
Race notes: A few goodies in here and it is hard to leave anyone out – gosh, Phil’s Cocktail is one of the best in the group too. The Booglaloo is a serious contender for Mark Casse but Hammerstein has had a race this year.
Race 9 – POST Time – 5:21 PM
First Half Late Double / Exactor /.20 Triactor / .20 Superfecta
Woodbine OPTIONAL CLAIMING $40,000
Purse $39,800. (Plus $8,000 – State Bred) (Plus $15,900 – Other Sources) (Plus $7,350 – Other Sources). For Three Year Olds And Upward Which Have Never Won Three Races Or Ontario Sired Allowance Which Have Never Won Three Races. Three Year Olds, 118 Lbs.; Older, 123 Lbs. Non-winners Of A Race Since April 2 Allowed 2 Lbs. Claiming Price $40,000 (Races WhereEntered For $32,000 Or Less Not Considered For Allowances). Six And One Half Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
6 Marten Lake (ON) 4/G L G Olguin D R Bell 3/1
1 Three Ring Circus (ON) 3/G L G Boulanger R P Tiller 2/1
2 Wickstead (ON) 4/G L D Moran P M Buttigieg 8/1
5 Warbred (ON) 5/G L E Wilson G D Cox 6/1
3 Spanish River (ON) 4/G L A Garcia F Huarte 20/1
4 Tuscan Getaway (KY) 4/G L P Husbands R Griffith 5/2
7 Grom (ON) 4/C M Moore R Gerl 20/1
Race 10 – POST Time – 5:52 PM
Second Half Late Double / Exactor /.20 Triactor /.20 Superfecta /.20 Jackpot Hi5
Woodbine MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT
Purse $55,900. (Plus $22,400 – Other Sources) (Plus $11,200 – State Bred) (Plus $9,975 – Other Sources). For Maidens, Fillies Three Years Old. Weight, 121 Lbs. Six And One Half Furlongs. (All Weather Track)
8 Academic (ON) 3/F L J McAleney R Baker 2/1
1 City Wells (ON) 3/F L A Garcia R L Attfield 4/1
2 Kasuga (ON) 3/F L D Moran W P Gracey 6/1
4 Golden Split (ON) 3/F L E R Da Silva M Pierce 10/1
3 Kihnu Star (ON) 3/F L J M Campbell M P De Paulo 20/1
5 Westcoast Wendy (ON) 3/F L 1 T Pizarro P Parente 6/1
6 Dixie Brew (ON) 3/F G Boulanger D E Rombis 12/1
7 Super Humor (ON) 3/F L P Husbands M E Casse 3/1
BEST BET: MARTEN LAKE (9th)
LONGSHOT: DIXIE’S VOW (4th)
