Harlan Malter of Ironhorse Racing Stable travels to Toronto from New York this weekend to watch his 2-year-old Mattingly in Sunday's Victoria Stakes at Woodbine. With a name like Mattingly, as Malter explains, this was meant to be.
Mattingly's origin story began with Malter's royal dream.
“I have a stallion named Bucchero who we campaigned,” Malter said. “He stands in Florida and he ran at Royal Ascot in the King Stand back in 2018. Just through me being overly friendly, I've become friends with a lot of people there and I thought the idea of eventually trying to get a Bucchero to run back at Ascot would be fun.”
Malter purchased Mattingly, by Bucchero and out of Grand Slam mare Battingstar, at Ocala this past March. Debuting in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes on May 13 at Gulfstream, Mattingly could've secured a trip to Royal Ascot, but finished second, putting the Ascot dream out of reach, for now.
The connection to baseball runs deep for Malter, so Mattingly's name came easily to him.
“[Mattingly's] dam is named Battingstar by Grand Slam. I played baseball at Columbia University in New York. My partner went there too. The greatest baseball player to play at Columbia University was Lou Gehrig, who played back in the 30s. Gehrig was known as the Iron Horse, which is the name of our racing stable. Who is the best baseball player ever in the state of Indiana? Don Mattingly, who also played for the Yankees just like Gehrig. Don Mattingly set the major league record for most grand slams in 1987. Legitimately the mare is by Grand Slam.”
Before planning to race at Woodbine this weekend, Malter wasn't aware Don Mattingly had become the bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, though there is even more to the Toronto connection.
“Probably the most surreal Grade One winner in the history of Woodbine was Bullards Alley who won the Pattison [Canadian International] by [10 ¾] lengths at 42-1 about six years ago. The trainer, Tim Glyshaw, is the trainer of Bucchero also. Tim Glyshaw is in the Evansville Indiana Sports Hall of Fame. Do you know who else is in the Evansville Indiana Sports Hall of Fame? Don Mattingly.”
Watch out for Ironhorse Racing Stable's Columbia blue silks with a circle representing a baseball in Sunday's Victoria Stakes on Sunday, 5 ½ Furlongs on the Tapeta.
A compact group of five will clash in the $125,000 Victoria Stakes, which is carded as Race 3 on Sunday's 11-race card.
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Mattingly – Sahin Civaci – Joseph Orseno
2 – Yacht Boy – Rico Walcott – Norman McKnight
3 – Going Up – Ronald Allen, Jr. – Ron Potts
4 – Gotts Got It – Erin Walker – Ron Potts
5 – Pipit (S) – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard
The weekend's stakes action at Woodbine will begin Saturday afternoon with the $125,000 five and a half furlong Victoria Stakes for two-year-old fillies.
Mark Casse trainee Stormcast has been installed as the 2/1 morning line choice in a field of seven. The daughter of Mitole ran second in her career debut on June 17, coming up just half a length short for jockey Declan Carroll. K E M Racing Stable own Stormcast.
The Casse barn also sends out Dancing Duchess, who bounced back from a seventh in her career debut on May 20 to post a game victory on June 17. Sahin Civaci retains the mount after riding Dancing Duchess to victory for owner Tracy Farmer.
Casse will be looking for his fifth victory in the My Dear, having last captured the race in 2021 with Diabolic (IRE).
Trainer Kevin Attard will send out a one-two punch Saturday in search of his first My Dear Stakes victory. Bolt Enoree and Pipit come out of the Attard barn with each having a start under their belt.
Bolt d'Oro filly Bolt Enoree was a winner at first asking on May 21, posting a victory of nearly two-lengths in a four and half furlong event. Emma-Jayne Wilson will ride for Attard and owners Al and Bill Ulwelling.
Pipit surrendered the lead late in her career debut on June 3, finishing second as the public's top choice. The Quality Road filly will team with jockey Patrick Husbands for the first-time, representing owners X-Men Racing 3, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC.
The My Dear Stakes will go as Race 7 on Saturday's 10-race card.
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Party – Luis Contreras – Barbara Minshall
2 – Crafty Oaks – Desean Bynoe – Keith Edwards
3 – Dancing Duchess – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
4 – Pipit – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard
5 – Bolt Enoree – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Kevin Attard
6 – Living Magic – Rafael Hernandez – Phil Schoenthal
7 – Stormcast – Declan Carroll – Mark Casse
Post time on Saturday and Sunday afternoon is 1:05 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the races through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.
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