stephen | Horse Racing Free Tips

Weyburn Tops Winterbook Edition Of 2021 Queen’s Plate Power Rankings

The Winterbook Edition of The 2021 Queen's Plate Power Rankings was released today featuring a list of 125 three-year-old Thoroughbreds nominated to the Canadian Triple Crown, topped by Chiefswood Stables' homebred Weyburn.

Weyburn has been pegged as the early 3-1 favorite in this year's set of predictive rankings for the 162nd running of the iconic $1 million Queen's Plate, first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, set for Sunday, August 22 at Woodbine Racetrack. Woodbine's annual Winterbook is assembled by Ron Gierkink and Alex Campbell of the Daily Racing Form.

Weyburn stepped into the 3-year-old spotlight with a gutsy nose nod in the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on March 6. Under Trevor McCarthy, the son of Pioneerof the Nile-Sunday Affair was sent off at 46-1 in the Grade 3 event. After a fifth-place finish in his career bow last October and a second in his next start in November, the dark bay has reeled off consecutive wins, including a maiden-breaking performance last December at Aqueduct. Chiefswood won the 2004 'Gallop of the Guineas' with Niigon. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens won the 2017 Plate with Stronach Stables' filly Holy Helena.

“He was a big, good-looking horse, very athletic and he was showing the signs early,” said Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey and Chiefswood Stables' General Manager, Robert Landry, who was aboard Niigon for the Plate score 17 years ago. “He actually wanted to do more than he was ready to do as a young horse. “Obviously, seasoning-wise, he's still a big kid, and it [Gotham] was a big step up for him, going from a maiden win to a graded stakes race. “It wasn't the plan, but good horses overcome those kinds of things. Jimmy [trainer, Jerkens] was really happy with the way he was training and it all worked out.”

The 2021 game plan for Weyburn is still being mapped out by his connections.

His next start will most likely come in the Grade 2 $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 3 at Aqueduct. The 1 1/8-mile main track event is a key race on the road to the Kentucky Derby.

“Right now, our main focus is on the U.S. Triple Crown races, but we're not ruling out the chance that he could run in the Plate,” said Landry. “His next race will tell us a lot and we should have a clearer picture of what the plans are after that.”

Stephen, a bay son of Constitution-Naughty Holiday, is the second choice at 4-1. He ended his 2-year-old campaign in style, courtesy of a polished performance in the $250,000 Coronation Futurity Stakes. The victory was a maiden-breaking score for the bay owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling. After an eighth-place finish in the Simcoe Stakes to launch his career at the end of August, Stephen rallied to finish second in his next engagement, a 1 1/16-mile event in October. Bred by Trackwest Racing Inc., the sophomore is one of two (Haddassah) high-profile hopefuls for the Ulwellings and trainer Kevin Attard, both in search of their first Plate triumph. Attard, whose best finish in the Queen's Plate to date was with 2007 runner-up Alezzandro, was third last year with Clayton.

“In Stephen's second start, he got into a little bit of trouble and he had to wait, regain momentum, and then he came with a furious run at the end,” said Attard, of the finalist for Canadian champion 2-year-old male honours. “I was pretty impressed to see that, especially from a younger horse in his second start. Even though he didn't win that day, he ran a winning race. That's pretty exciting to see, obviously when you're going two turns and you have a Canadian-bred, then everything starts to ring in your head that maybe this could be the horse.”

Ranked number three at 6-1, Tio Magico could deliver iconic Canadian owner-breeder Sam-Son Farm with its sixth Plate crown. A son of Uncle Mo-Magic Broomstick, the Gail Cox trainee swept aside a troubled first start on September 7 to win his second appearance, on October 4, by a half-length, as the 2-1 choice. Tio Magico followed that effort up with a game second to Stephen in the Coronation Futurity. He made his 2021 debut on March 11, finishing third at Gulfstream in a 1-mile main track race. Sam-Son Farm, who will receive a special Sovereign Award at this year's annual ceremonies, notched their most recent Plate win with Eye of the Leopard in 2009.

“I thought it [most recent race] was a great effort,” said Cox. “I was really impressed. When he shipped here [Florida], he didn't put a foot wrong, had a great pre-race performance and I thought he ran really well. The winner [Prevalence] is a monster. He's a really nice horse. I was talking to the connections and they hope they are on the Kentucky Derby trail with that horse. I thought 'Tio' didn't give up after those fast fractions. He kept running. He still runs a little green. Junior [jockey, Alvarado] said he had a pretty good look at the horse before he got running again. His two races before, he fooled around a little in the stretch and ducked to the rail. This time, he was way more mature.

“I think he's maturing with every start,” continued Cox. “He had a pretty good gallop out too. This is what you want to see [on the road to the Plate]. I think his speed can be harnessed. I think he's going to become a horse that could possibly sit in behind a little bit or be the speed if nobody else is there. I think he's going to be quite manageable. The plan is that we'll be back to Woodbine around mid-April.”

Haddassah, a gelded son of Air Force Blue-Lady Haddassah, represents the Ulwellings (who also bred the bay) and Attard's other top Plate prospect. He is listed as the 8-1 fourth choice in the Winterbook. Sent off at 9-5 in his career bow last November at Woodbine, Haddassah didn't disappoint in his only start to date, making a strong late surge to record a half-length win in a 1 mile and 70-yard Tapeta race originally scheduled for the turf. The Ontario-bred (and Stephen) stayed with Attard in Ontario over the winter.“He had trained really well coming into that race,” recalled Attard. “If he wasn't going to win that race, a good horse was going to have to beat him. So, there weren't any surprises with him in terms of that first race just because he had shown a lot of talent from the get-go, and you anticipate that kind of effort. Luckily, that transpired. Both Haddassah and Stephen are settled in nicely at Woodbine. This week, you'll start to see them get into a routine now. We let them do a little bit last week, just stretching their legs, so that we can see where we're at. We'll start those foundation breezes and increase things as we go along.

“They [Ulwellings] are great guys. They are supportive of Canadian racing, they foal their mares here – it's nice to have those types of people, who put in the investment, get rewarded.”

Like his namesake, Gretzky the Great (10-1 in the Winterbook) has been just that over his six-race career, a resume that features three wins, one second and a third. Bred by David Anderson, the Mark Casse trainee contested his first four races at Woodbine, making three trips to the winner's circle, including the Soaring Free and Grade 1 Summer Stakes, to go along with a runner-up effort. After a sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf to close out his 2020 season, the colt, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber, finished third in his 2021 curtain raiser, the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park on February 26. He is also a finalist for Canadian champion 2-year-old male honours. Casse has two Plate trophies, both with fillies, in 2014 with Lexie Lou and in 2018 with Wonder Gadot.

Dreaming of Drew, a daughter of Speightster-Dreaming of Liz, is one of several strong fillies found on this year's Winterbook list. Campaigned by champion trainer Barbara Minshall, the Hoolie Racing Stable LLC and Madaket Stable LLC rising star fashions a record of 2-2-0 from five career starts. The chestnut, who broke her maiden with a six-length score in her second start last July, was equally impressive in her final start of last year. Bet down to 4-5, Dreaming of Drew led throughout, en route to a 3 ¾-length victory in the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes. Listed at 12-1 in the Winterbook, she is a finalist for the 2-year-old female Sovereign Award.

The post Weyburn Tops Winterbook Edition Of 2021 Queen’s Plate Power Rankings appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Owner-Breeder David Clancy Has An Early Trifecta For 2021 Queen’s Plate

David Clancy has his early Queen's Plate triactor picked out.

There are 195 calendar days, and plenty of races to be run before the gates open on the 162nd edition of Canada's most famous horse race.

While it's far too early to speculate as to which horses will go postward in the $1 million, 1 ¼ mile classic at Woodbine on August 22, the horseman with three early contenders attached to his name is sporting a big smile these days.

“I think it's very special,” said Clancy, who bred the trio of Giant Waters, Smiley Sobotka, and Stephen. “I'm happy and proud.”

Clancy owns one of the three Thoroughbreds, namely, Giant Waters. Smiley Sobotka, a chestnut son of Brody's Cause, is owned by Albaugh Family Stables LLC, and Stephen, a bay son of Constitution, is owned by father and son team Al & Bill Ulwelling.

One would expect, understandably, that Clancy would be rooting for Giant Waters to take all the spoils in the oldest continually run stakes race in North America.

Not so.

For the longtime horse racing fan, a win by any of the three would be a dream realized.

But that being said, a victory by Giant Waters would be money in the bank – literally.

“I get as much enjoyment out of other people winning with horses that I bred,” offered Clancy. “In this case, I wouldn't say it's [wanting Giant Waters to win the Plate] 100 per cent true. Given the money part, I guess that would be better for me.”

Trained by two-time Plate winner Dan Vella, Giant Waters has a record of 0-2-2 from four starts. Despite his maiden status, the son of Giant Gizmo-Green Waters has looked sharp in all of his races to date, including third-place efforts in both the Cup & Saucer Stakes and Coronation Futurity, run last October and November, respectively.

Vella, who won the 1994 Plate with Basqueian and the 2012 running with Strait of Dover, has high praise for his sophomore colt.

“Distance is his friend,” said the conditioner with nearly 850 lifetime victories. “That's a big thing for any racehorse. You can win a lot of races going short, but you don't win the big ones. He likes both surfaces, but probably prefers the turf a little bit. He handles both well. He shouldn't be a maiden – he had such a tough trip in his second race – but that is a benefit to us now. He's at Classic Mile [Florida] right now and we're looking forward to seeing him get his first start of the year.”

A meticulous breeder, Clancy, owner of Clancy CPA & Co., a Toronto-based accounting firm, dedicates hours upon hours to homework when it comes to adding broodmares and planning matings to his band at his farm in Tottenham, Ontario.

The hope, as always, is to produce competitive and versatile runners, horses that can flourish at Woodbine Racetrack and beyond.

Giant Waters is a prime example of Clancy's breeding blueprint approach.

“I bought his granddam, Countervail, at the Keeneland November 2011 sale. I think it was one of those sales where people were sleeping at that moment, and I managed to buy her at a pretty cheap price in relation to her pedigree. Giant Waters' mother [Green Waters], I bought her through a claim as a first-time starter as a racing prospect and obviously liked the family. Unfortunately, her racing career had some injury issues along the way, but I had faith that Green Waters would be a successful broodmare.”

Clancy's unwavering belief and patience paid off in the form of Giant Waters.

He's not the only one in his family that became an instant fan of the horse.

“My grandson Jason told me not to sell him,” recalled Clancy. “He said, 'Grandpa, he's going to be a good racer, do not sell him!' He loves that horse. His farm nickname is “Guinness,” but Jason calls him “Root Beer.” He really likes Green Waters too. She's his favourite in the paddock. She's kind of the boss of the paddock.”

There is the same pride in Clancy's voice when he speaks of Smiley Sobotka and Stephen.

Fashioning a win and a pair of seconds from four starts, Smiley Sobotka has yet to race at Woodbine, contesting races at Ellis Park, Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Tampa Bay Downs, to date.

He was ninth in the Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis on February 6.

“I bought the dam, Dance Thewayouare, at Fasig-Tipton in 2013. I always thought she had a great pedigree even though she wasn't a great racehorse. Interestingly, she is from the same family of [breeder] David Anderson's horse Gretzky the Great, and she is in foal to Nyquist, the sire of Gretzky the Great, arguably the present favourite for this year's Queen's Plate. I really thought that was a nice horse to pick up. I kept her first foal, a filly named Dance Ready, who was claimed and then I claimed her back with my partner on many horses, Donald Whalen. I like that family a lot. I think she'll be a nice mare down the road as well.”

After an eighth-place finish in his debut last August at Woodbine, Stephen finished second in his next start, following it up with an ultra-impressive score in the Coronation Futurity on November 1.

The Kevin Attard trainee is in Ontario in preparation for the start of the 2021 Woodbine Thoroughbred campaign, slated for April 17.

“Stephen, his dam is Naughty Holiday. I also owned her mother, Mrs. Coolidge. I really, really liked that mare and had her for a few years. When I saw Naughty Holiday at the 2017 November Keeneland sale – she was in foal to what would become Stephen – I bought her. I kind of lucked out buying her at a very reasonable price. I was happy that I was able to get back into that family. I told people that I liked the mother so much that I bought the daughter.”

Clancy, who would venture to Woodbine on weekends in his younger days hoping to put some money in his pockets by handicapping the races, also loves racing so much that he decided to get into the sport in a different capacity in the mid-2000s.

In 2005, he purchased a pub in Burlington, Ontario, and shortly thereafter obtained an off-track betting parlour for the establishment. He was later introduced to Woodbine-based trainer Steve Attard, and sales consignor and breeder Susan Foreman, who sold and partnered with Clancy on his first yearling.

The horse, Keino West, is a nod to Kenyan track legend Kip Keino, a gold medalist at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics.

Trained by Attard, Keino West broke his maiden at the end of his two-year-old campaign.

At three, the son of Kissin Kris competed in all three legs of the 2009 Canadian Triple Crown Series. He was sixth in the Queen's Plate, fourth in the Prince of Wales, and fifth in the Breeders' Stakes.

Now, some 12 years later, Clancy could be back in the spotlight once again, perhaps with three chances to win the country's most coveted race.

An accomplished track & field competitor in his day – he would classify himself as a decent allowance horse – Clancy doesn't need to be reminded that pacing oneself on the path to the Queen's Plate is paramount.

“The breeding game is definitely a marathon and not a sprint. It takes a lot of patience. It has its ups and downs like a marathon does. Sometimes you're running well and something happens, you get a cramp and fall back, and breeding is the same thing with setbacks. You have to have that fortitude to handle the mental issues that come with the territory in horse racing.”

None of it prevents Clancy from dreaming big when it comes to his trio of Plate hopefuls.

“The first horse I ever bought made it to the Queen's Plate. The race is a big goal and objective, for sure. It would be pretty cool to win it one day, either as a breeder or an owner.”

Or, with a little racing luck and the perfect trip, perhaps both.

The post Owner-Breeder David Clancy Has An Early Trifecta For 2021 Queen’s Plate appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Grey, Mazarine Stakes Shine Woodbine Spotlight On 2-Year-Olds

Nine 2-year-olds, including impressive first-time winner Haddassah, are set to contest Sunday's $125,000 Grey Stakes (G3), at Woodbine, on a card that also includes the $125,000 Mazarine Stakes (G3) for fillies.

Bred and owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling, Haddassah, a bay son of Air Force Blue, didn't fly under the radar in his curtain-raising effort on Nov. 1.

Trained by Kevin Attard, the Ontario-bred went off as the 9-5 choice in the mile and 70-yard main track maiden special weight event, a race that was originally scheduled for the turf.

Under Justin Stein, Haddassah improved from seventh at the quarter-mile mark to second at the stretch call, going on to record a half-length score in a time of 1:42.50.

The gelding will now look to build off that smart score when he takes to the Woodbine Tapeta again on Sunday.

“The farm in Kentucky liked him as a baby, then as he got to Kevin, from day one, he has liked him,” said Al Ulwelling. “He had more leg than his brother and sister … just a taller, better-balanced horse. What stood out to us most was if he was fit enough [for his debut], and he was.”

Stein, who has 125 wins (as of Nov. 18) on the season and currently sits atop the Toronto oval jockey standings, was impressed by Haddassah's debut.

“He really showed a determination to beat his company in his first lifetime race,” praised Stein. “He ran like a true professional.”

The Ulwellings would like to see a carbon copy of that effort in Haddassah's second start.

“We are really excited to watch him Sunday,” said Al Ulwelling. “We feel he will run better with a race under his belt and just knowing he has been through the process.”

“Haddassah had trained really well heading into his first start,” noted Attard. “It was nice to see him transfer that into his debut. He was very professional and looked impressive graduating. He has come back to work well in the interim and we're hoping to see him take another step forward Sunday.”

The same connections will also send out Stephen, a 2-year-old son of Constitution.

Bred by Trackwest Racing Inc., the Ontario-bred colt broke his maiden in his most recent start, the $250,000 Coronation Futurity, on Nov. 1 at Woodbine.

After an eighth to launch his career on Aug. 30, Stephen finished second in his next start, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on Oct. 4.

“Stephen has really taken a step forward since his career debut,” said Attard. “Going into his second start, we thought he'd run a big race and he did. He had some traffic trouble but closed really well to run second. In the Coronation, he ran a similar race, but was able to get by and win. He's a colt that has a great mental attitude and is very easy to ride. We're excited to have two nice Canadian-breds.”

Mark Casse will present the one-two punch of Helium and Easy Time in the Grey Stakes.

Owned by D J Stable LLC, Helium deflated his competition in both of his starts, including a 4 ¼-length romp in the Display Stakes on Oct. 18 at Woodbine.

Under Emma-Jayne Wilson, the son of Ironicus watched his lead balloon from one length at the stretch call to an open-length victory in a time of 1:22.62 for seven furlongs on the Woodbine main track.

Helium won his debut, also at seven furlongs on the Tapeta, by 3 ¼ lengths on Sept. 27, paying $16.10 for the win.

“Where these races [Grey and Mazarine] are situated in the calendar – especially the Grey – is going to make to this one a really good race,” said Casse. “In the past, we would run the Grey [earlier]. I don't know who else is going to go in there, but we're going to run two really good horses.”

A victory by Helium would certainly stamp him as a legitimate contender – along with Grade 1 winner and fellow Casse pupil Gretzky the Great – for Sovereign Award 2-year-old male honors.

“Helium is quite talented,” said Casse. “He's raced extremely well in both of his races.”

Casse's other trainee, Easy Time, a dark bay son of Not This Time, was exceptional in taking his debut on Oct. 25 at Woodbine.

Sent off as the slight 7-5 choice, the colt, bred by Breeze Easy LLC, converted a mid-stretch bid into a 2 ¾-length win. Easy Time covered the seven-furlong Toronto oval Tapeta test in 1:23.92.

“He was extremely impressive in his first start. He's by one of the best young freshman sires in North America. And now, we're going to run him two turns for the first time. I think Easy Time will give Helium a run for his money.”

Owner J.K.L Ross won five straight editions of the race, from 1921-25. Wando, Canada's most recent Triple Crown champion (in 2003), won the Grey in 2002. Mine That Bird, the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, took the race in 2008.

***

Casse, who has seven Mazarine titles, has two opportunities to add to that impressive total on Sunday.

The 1 1/16-mile Mazarine, which offers Grade 3 status and a purse of $125,000, has attracted a field of seven 2-year-old fillies, including Casse charges Souper Sensational and Sleek Lynx.

Owned by Live Oak Plantation, Souper Sensational has lived up to her name over two starts, including a fantastic four-length display in the Glorious Song Stakes on Oct. 17 at Woodbine.

Sent on her way as the 3-5 choice, the chestnut daughter of Curlin widened her advantage down the lane, going on for the easy score in a time of 1:21.84 over seven furlongs on the Woodbine Tapeta.

Three weeks earlier, Souper Sensational broke her maiden at first asking as she registered a 2 ¼-length win, also at seven panels, in a time of 1:23.54, in a $126,800 maiden special weight event.

“We decided not to go to the Breeders' Cup with her,” offered Casse. “She's been very impressive so far in her couple of races. We feel like her pedigree says she should be able to stretch out. She's coming out into it well. She had a nice breeze [four furlongs in :48.80 over the Woodbine main track on November 14], but it wasn't so much what she did during the breeze, but what she did after it. She galloped out really strong. Every indication says she should get two turns. But until you try it, you don't know.”

Sleek Lynx, owned by Gary Barber, will contest her fourth lifetime race, and second stakes outing.

The dark bay daughter of War Front, who finished fifth in the Natalma (G1T) on Sept. 20, broke her maiden last time out, a 1 ¼-length victory over one mile over “good” going on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Bred in Britain by Haras Don Alberto, Sleek Lynx finished second in her debut on July 23 at Gulfstream Park, finishing a half-length behind Director's Cut in a one-mile grass race.

“She's probably a better turf horse, but we're getting near the end of the year. She has a huge pedigree and it would be nice to pick up some black type with her.”

Casse won three straight Mazarines from 2012-14. His most recent triumph came three years ago with 2018 Queen's Plate champ and Canada's 2018 Horse of the Year, Wonder Gadot. He was also victorious in 2004 and 2007 with Higher World and Officer Cherrie, respectively, as well as in 2016 with Gale Force.

The Grey Stakes is race 10 and the Mazarine is slated as race 11 on Sunday's 13-race card. First post time is 1:25 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$125,000 GREY STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Haddassah – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
2 – British Royalty – Patrick Husbands – Barbara Minshall
3 – Stephen – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
4 – Lucky Score – Daisuke Fukumoto – Ralph Biamonte
5 – Barrister Tom* – Kazushi Kimura – Michael Ewing
6 – Lomaki's Gem – Jerome Lermyte – Stuart Simon
7 – Helium – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
8 – Easy Time – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
9 – Gospel Way – Emile Ramsammy – Nathan Squires

* denotes supplemented

$125,000 MAZARINE STAKES
1 – Il Malocchio – Sahin Civaci – Martin Drexler
2 – Sleek Lynx – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
3 – Do You Love Me – David Moran – Michael Trombetta
4 – Batyah – Justin Stein – Graham Motion
5 – Army Wife* – Kazushi Kimura – Michael Maker
6 – Designer Ready – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Barbara Minshall
7 – Souper Sensational – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

* denotes supplemented

The post Grey, Mazarine Stakes Shine Woodbine Spotlight On 2-Year-Olds appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Constitution Colt Stephen Wins Coronation Futurity At Woodbine

Al and Bill Ulwelling's 2-year-old colt Stephen tracked down the front-runners for a breakthrough victory in the 117th edition of the $250,000 Coronation Futurity on Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Justin Stein earned star of the card honors as he notched his fifth win of the day aboard the Kevin Attard trainee, who defeated Tio Magico by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:52.46 to break his maiden in the featured 11/8-mile stakes race for Canadian-foaled 2-year-olds.

Tio Magico led the field of eight through fractions of :24.87, :49.20 and 1:13.15, with the favored Cup and Saucer Stakes winner Master Spy pressing the pace.

Meanwhile, Stephen, who followed second-to-last early on after an awkward start, was hustled into fifth-place on the final turn and tipped off the rail to run down Tio Magico in the stretch.

“He broke a little bit funny,” noted Stein, chalking the start up to the blustery weather conditions or the colt's inexperience, “but we recovered quick and I was happy with the trip we were getting and he just ran a good race.

“I had to make sure that he knew what was going on. I had to make him run a little more. He put his mind to the task when he got some daylight and took aim at the horse in front of him, he ran by him professionally.”

Giant Waters finished 2 1/2 lengths behind Tio Magico in third, with Master Spy, British Royalty, One Flint, Threefiftyseven and Flex completing the order of finish.

Stephen returned $6.30 to win as the 2-1 second choice in this third career start.

Attard said his trainee had always shown signs of talent and took a shot in the $250,000 restricted Simcoe Stakes for his August 30 debut over 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track. Although running eighth there, he gained valuable racing experience.

The bay colt entered the Coronation Futurity off a strong second-place effort, finishing just a half-length behind the Sam-Son Farm homebred Tio Magico in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on October 4.

“Obviously, in the second race, I thought he ran great,” said Attard. “He showed a tremendous turn of foot, was coming to the winner and just ran out of real estate. He's trained well in the interim and he was coming into this race in great shape, so we were pretty high on our chances.”

Bred in Ontario by Trackwest Racing Inc., the colt by Constitution (named for former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper) was a $170,000 purchase from the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2-year-olds in training spring sale.

With a gifted youngster taking what is considered a significant 2-year-old race on the road to next year's Queen's Plate, Attard dismissed the myths of the “Coronation Futurity curse” with a laugh. (The last horse to complete the Coronation Futurity-Queen's Plate double was Norcliffe, who won this race in 1975).

“Streaks are made to be broken,” said Attard, hoping stars will align in the 162nd running of the Plate. “I was born in 1975 so the plan is to break this curse next year.”

Speaking of young talent, the Ulwellings' homebred 2-year-old Haddassah debuted a winner in the race prior for the same connections.

Live Thoroughbred racing resumes at Woodbine Racetrack on Thursday with an eight-race program set to kick off at 2:15 p.m. Please note that the upcoming Friday and Saturday cards will have special post times of 4:45 p.m. and 12:25 p.m., respectively.

The post Constitution Colt Stephen Wins Coronation Futurity At Woodbine appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post