FIGHT CLUB

WILD



QUEEN'S PLATE/WOODBINE OAKS UPDATES

STRONACH TEAM LOOKING VERY STRONG


(EQUISPORTPHOTOS.COM of Harlem Rocker, wrapped up in the Withers)


As reported yesterday:

The dreams of a Plate win for local owner and breeder Garland Williamson may have been dashed.

COOL GATOR, the early favourite for the Plate and considered the major challenger to HARLEM ROCKER in Sunday's Plate Trial, has a mysteryious ailment in a left foreleg and tests are being done to find out what it is.
He will not race in the Trial and may miss the Plate.

HARLEM ROCKER, meanwhile, is at Woodbine and is the even-money favourite in the morning line for the Trial against 7 rivals, two of which are maidens.

The intriguing part of the Trial, other than HARLEM ROCKER'S 2-turn debut and Polytrack debut, is the pair of colts from Bill Clifton Jr and trainer James Bond.

PEWTER, a grandson of Plate winner Alydeed who did nothing in 2 starts at 2 but won his 3yo debut by 9 lengths with a 95 Beyer Figure, may attraction attention. He's breed to be fast for sure but will the 9 furlong distance suit him?

SOLITAIRE is a better bet for the distance even if he is a maiden. He has a classic Plate pedigree as he is by BELMONT STAKES winner VICTORY GALLOP (a Canadian-bred) out of the stakes winner route mare Ring Star.
He raced once and closed fast in a 9 furlong grass race but surely is better bred for a main track event.

Those who are fans of PEWTER/SOLITAIRE may want to harken back a few years to the much hyped Bond 3yo WILD YEARS.
A sensational maiden winner in the U.S., Wild Years came up to Ontario for the Prince of Wales, was odds-on to beat Win City and Dancethruthedawn and finished last.


The 2nd race on Sunday also features several colts with Plate aspirations.


NEXT SUNDAY is th $500,000 WOODBINE OAKS with GINGER BREW, 93 Byer Figure and all, the likely heavy favourite - also from the Stronach Stables.
Sam-Son Farm, in 2000, won the Oaks-Plate double with 2 different horses.

(Jim Lisa photo from Calder)







FIELD FOR PLATE TRIAL STAKES Post / Horse / Trainer / Jockey


1 / East End Tap / Reade Baker / Tyler Pizarro

2 / Not Bourbon / Roger Attfield / Jono Jones

3 / Mamma’s Knight / Sam Di Pasquale / Jerry Baird

4 / Chasin the Tornado / Barb Minshall / Daniel David

5 / Solitaire / H. James Bond / Robert Landry

6 / Harlem Rocker / Todd Pletcher / Eibar Coa

7 / Sebastian’s Song / Alec Fehr / David Clark

8 / Pewter / H. James Bond / Patrick Husbands




WOODBINE FRIDAY CARRYOVER - $38,000


Tough sledding for the Pick 7 players today. Lots of low claiming events, maiden races etc.

A couple of highlights - both on the grass.

Race 5 is a maiden allowance with the promising MISS MCDREAMY for Richard Lister and trainer im Smith. She has not raced this year but has run well on the grass and is a 4yo.

Well bred beginners in the race include THEWORLDISMYSTAGE, a Theatrical gal and half-sister to multiple stakes winner Stage Classic and WILLING, a full sister to debut winner Playwild.

Perhaps the best bred gal in the field is DAME CLIEQUOT, a daughter of $2 million earner Lido Palace out of a Dehere mare who has had 3 grass winning foals from 3 starters.

RACE 7 is the feature, an allowance/optional claimer at 1 mile on turf. James Bond has shipped up BELIEVEINMENOW, a Tiznow colt, for his 2nd turf attempt. The colt closed for 2nd in his grass debut on April 18 and he is graded stakes placed on the dirt.

Old timer AS EXPECTED will try and wire the field in his 2nd race of the season. Note the 9yo won 2nd time out last year too.


DUTROW BULLISH AGAIN....

If you have not seen this, you have to read his comments about the Triple Crown ("a foregone conclusion") and why Smarty Jones lost the Triple Crown..

http://www.bloodhorse.com/Now/News/NewsletterTopNews/45471.aspx