TRIAL ON TRIAL

It's beginning to feel a lot like the classics soon! Okay, the folks south of the border are well into their classic races for 3yo's (5 expected for the Belmont? yikes) - but the Queen's Plate is coming up in 3 1/2 weeks and the PLATE TRIAL is on Sunday...see note below.

IT’S EAAAASY

The racing world lost a potential superstar stallion and in particular broodmare sire when EASY GOER passed away after only a few years at stud. The Belmont Stakes, etc. hero is currently the damsire of CORINTHIAN, who scored a workmanlike win in the Met Mile yesterday at Belmont on Memorial day.

Corinthian bounced back to his career best Beyer Figure with his 107 effort yesterday. The leggy chestnut tracked a modest past in the one-mile race and finished strongly to beat the grey Political Force (Unbridled’s Song) who ran very well to rally from well off the pace.

Corinthian is by Pulpit out of Multiply and is owned by Centennial Farms and trained Jimmy Jerkens.

Lawyer Ron, by Langfuhr, was less than 1 ½ lengths out of the winner’s circle in 3^rd place.

TIN? MORE LIKE IRON

Nine-year-old THE TIN MAN became the oldest winner of the Grade 1 Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile yesterday at Hollywood Park. Woodbine Mike winner BECRUX finished fourth.

Stronach Stable’s CITRONNADE, who won yesterday’s Gamely Breeders Cup, a Grade 1 race, at Hollywood Park, is a Kentucky bred by Lemon Drop Kid and from Kinghaven Farms’ former mare Primarily (now deceased). Primarly is the dam of Whiskey Wisdom, Poetically and Primaly as well as the dam of Queen’s Plate contender Twilight Meteor.

Harlequin Ranches owned part of THREE DEGREES, the filly who broke down in the race and had to be euthanized.

CAN’T SLAY THE DRAGOON

And 2 for Stronach Stables at the Fort

It has been a long time since the Adena Springs’-bred DRAGOONER has been at Woodbine but the Siphon-Dance on Fire, Conquistador Cielo 5yo won his 10^th race of his career and 3^rd in succession yesterday at Will Rogers Downs in allowance company. The fast gelding raced 5 furlongs in 56 3/5.

Stronach Stables won two races at FORT ERIE yesterday with Rob Landry riding both (the first winner, Bear Back, by Helmsman was actually second by was placed first through disqualification). Sunny Sam, by Golden Missile, was the other winner. Both were claimed.

Fort Erie’s off-track handle yesterday - $550,000, ouch.

The track’s latest race-caller, Peter Kite, was reasonably good in his first day on the job although, as is often with the case with many broadcasting analysts, race callers who are not true racing people, calling fillies ‘him’ and colts ‘her’ during the races is very annoying.

NEAR MISSES

FAIRWELL MADRID (Sefapiano-I’m Selective, Mi Silecto) made a methodical, 4 wide move from the backstretch, around the turn to the lead in stretch of a starter allowance yesterday at Arlington Park only to be caught near the wire. The mare won 4 races at various levels since leaving Fort Erie last year and was recently moved from owner/ trainer Donna McCullough to new owners Daryl and Evelyn Tayes Ltd. She was bred by Mervyn Kirby.

DA CARDINAL, bred by Earl Daynes, had an insane trip at Churchill yesterday when he was in a huge speed duel with another runner in a 1 mile event and slipped back to 3^rd in a $32,000 claiming event. The colt by Pulpit-Lochlin was claimed. He had just run a 96 Beyer Figure in an allowance win at Mountaineer in his last start.

SCOREBOARD

Trainer ROGER ATTFIELD was the 2^nd leading trainer in North American last week with four wins in 17 starts, 2 stakes winners and purse earnings of $269,000 (US). Todd Pletcher also won 2 stakes events and $434,000 from 32 starters.

A jam-up on the leading riders list at Woodbine – okay so it’s darn early – but there is a lot of variety in winning jocks these days.

Through Sunday apprentice TYLER PIZARRO is on top with 22 wins over a bunch of folks with 20 wins: EMMA-JAYNE WILSON, EURICO ROSA DA SILVA and apprentice MICHELLE RAINFORD.

ROBERT TILLER holds on to a one-win lead for trainers at 16 over SID ATTARD with ABRAHAM KATRYAN at 12.

PLATE TRIAL CANDIDATES

Sunday’s PLATE TRIAL STAKES is shaping up as an interesting race and while the Plate has been losing candidates here and there, the Canadian classic should still attract a competitive group of Canadian-breds.

The Trial, a 9 furlongs and three weeks before the Plate, should have the following starters:

ALEZZANDRO (High Yield), one start, one win

DANCER’S BAJAN (Trajectory) placed in two stakes in 2007

IT’S A DANZIG (Danzig) won maiden on turf at Churchill, Emma-Jayne Wilson to ride

JIGGS COZ (Cozzene) Queenston winner

MARCHFIELD (A.P. Indy) 91 Beyer in maiden win

MARKDALE (Holy Bull) Todd Kabel latest new rider, stakes placed

There could be a few entrants but the trainers of LEONNATUS ANTEAS and HIGH ACT (Kevin Attard and Brian Lynch) are skeptical about making the Trial.