Speed wins, then loses
A very sloppy main track at Woodbine on Saturday meant horses who didn't get mud in their faces and had early speed had a bit of an advantage during the 10-race card. That's not to say the track was speed favouring since there was at least one thrilling stretch run put in by a closer on a drizzly and cool day.
As noted by Milhouse (see comment below "Old guys" post), some new stars emerged on the afternoon including Bruno Bros. Farms' MAIN EXECUTIVE, who coasted to a win in the 5th race, an optional claiming/allowance dash at 5 1/2 furlongs. The speedy full brother to champion sprinter Blonde Executive got away with an easy pace in the race as previously undefeated Verne's Baby, the giant stakes winning gelding who had not raced in almost a year, tracked him on the outside. He never caught up as Main Executive and regular rider Richard Dos Ramos hung tough. Stakes bound? Not sure about that but this was the 4-year-old's first real test and he passed.
The quick ones were not as successful in the 108th Woodstock Stakes but the top two finishers are Queen's Plate eligibles who figure to show up next in the May 6 Queenston Stakes.
The incredibly hot Reade Baker stable developed ATLAS SHRUGS over the winter from a $50,000 claim to stakes winner for the partnership of Roberts and Pepper.
A sizzling early pace set by L'Argent (:22 for the first two furlongs) took its toll on that Silver Deputy colt and almost all the others who chased him.
Atlas Shrugs, a compact son of Compadre, was zooming past horses off the turn and got into traffic trouble but was ultra tough to overcome the melee, get loose and blow past for the score under jockey Corey Fraser.
Another son of Silver Deputy, VIBANK, was never comfortable on the sloppy surface according to jockey David Clark, but staved off all the other speed and held on for second.
The pair will likely meet up with last year's champion 2-year-old colt EDENWOLD in the Queenston.
As noted by Milhouse (see comment below "Old guys" post), some new stars emerged on the afternoon including Bruno Bros. Farms' MAIN EXECUTIVE, who coasted to a win in the 5th race, an optional claiming/allowance dash at 5 1/2 furlongs. The speedy full brother to champion sprinter Blonde Executive got away with an easy pace in the race as previously undefeated Verne's Baby, the giant stakes winning gelding who had not raced in almost a year, tracked him on the outside. He never caught up as Main Executive and regular rider Richard Dos Ramos hung tough. Stakes bound? Not sure about that but this was the 4-year-old's first real test and he passed.
The quick ones were not as successful in the 108th Woodstock Stakes but the top two finishers are Queen's Plate eligibles who figure to show up next in the May 6 Queenston Stakes.
The incredibly hot Reade Baker stable developed ATLAS SHRUGS over the winter from a $50,000 claim to stakes winner for the partnership of Roberts and Pepper.
A sizzling early pace set by L'Argent (:22 for the first two furlongs) took its toll on that Silver Deputy colt and almost all the others who chased him.
Atlas Shrugs, a compact son of Compadre, was zooming past horses off the turn and got into traffic trouble but was ultra tough to overcome the melee, get loose and blow past for the score under jockey Corey Fraser.
Another son of Silver Deputy, VIBANK, was never comfortable on the sloppy surface according to jockey David Clark, but staved off all the other speed and held on for second.
The pair will likely meet up with last year's champion 2-year-old colt EDENWOLD in the Queenston.
posted by Jen Morrison @ 8:25 PM
1 Comments:
At 7:07 AM,
Jen Morrison said…
Sure, Main Executive would certainly be a presence in the New Providence, especially since it is restricted to Ontario-sired runners. If he meets up with Verne's Baby again in that longer sprint, however, it might be a different story.
The 'Bear', Danny Dion, who owns Bear Stables must have been thrilled with the very gutsy effort by his Dixie Union colt in the Lexington. The winner, Showing Up, remained undefeated and could be a superstar on his way to the Kentucky Derby.
I would be surprised if Bear Character 9an American-bred and not Queen's Plate eligible) was not in the Marine on May 20 at Woodbine and that make things very tough for the Plate hopefuls in that field...
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