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Weyburn Tops Aug. 6 Edition Of Power Rankings For 2021 Queen’s Plate

Woodbine Entertainment today released its latest edition of Power Rankings for the 162^nd running of the Queen's Plate.

The 162^nd Queen's Plate will take place on Sunday, Aug. 22 at Woodbine Racetrack. Canada's most famous horse race will launch the 2021 OLG Canadian Triple Crown, which includes the Prince of Wales on September 14 at Fort Erie and the Breeders' Stakes on October 3 at Woodbine.

The Power Rankings highlight the most talented 3-year-old Thoroughbreds eligible to enter for a spot in the $1 million race. Votes are cast by expert horseplayers and racing personalities from Woodbine and the Daily Racing Form: Jeff Bratt, Robert Geller, Ron Gierkink, Jason Portuondo, Monique Vág and Mark McKelvie. The rankings are based on votes following a points system (five points for a first-place vote, four points for second-place vote, etc.) for top five selections, and honourable mentions.

After receiving all first-place votes in Woodbine's first power rankings, Weyburn remains in top spot on the list, receiving five of the six first-place votes. The Jimmy Jerkens trainee ran last weekend in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga, finishing a disappointing fourth in a five-horse field. The Chiefswood Stables Limited homebred was making his first start since a runner-up effort in the TVG.com Pegasus Stakes on June 13 at Monmouth.

Weyburn now sports a career record of two wins, two seconds and $343,520 earned in seven career outings. The G1 Travers was on the radar for Weyburn, but his most recent outing does open the possibility of his connections changing paths and considering an appearance in the $1-million Queen's Plate.

Keep Grinding moves up from number three to two in the latest rankings. The Tino Attard trainee has not run since a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes on July 11. Keep Grinding most recently breezed six-furlongs in 1:15.60 over Woodbine's tapeta surface on August 1.

Woodbine Oaks winner Munnyfor Ro makes her first appearance on the power rankings at number four following a strong performance in last Sunday's $500,000 event. Raroma Stable and trainer Kevin Attard are considering supplementing the filly to the Queen's Plate.

Sam-Son Farm's Dance Some Mo (number three) and WellSpring Stables' Safe Conduct (number five) are also part of the latest power rankings. A total of 12 different three-year-olds received votes in the latest power rankings.

The entry box for the 162^nd Queen's Plate closes the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 18.

The 162^nd Queen's Plate is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 22 at Woodbine Racetrack. Tickets are currently on sale and Woodbine will be announcing further event details next week. Fans can track the Power Rankings and all information regarding the Queen's Plate by visiting QueensPlate.com and on Woodbine Entertainment's social media platforms via @WoodbineTB.

Queen's Plate Power Rankings (Week 2 – August 6, 2021)

Rank – Horse – Career Record – Earnings – Trainer – Points – First Place Votes – Previous Ranking

1 – Weyburn – 7-2-2-0 – $343,520 – Jimmy Jerkens – 25 – 5 – 1^st
2 – Keep Grinding – 5-1-1-1 – $87,982 – Tino Attard – 15 – 0 – 3rd
3 – Dance Some Mo – 5-1-2-0 – $54,175 – 11 – 1 – NR
4 – Munnyfor Ro – 9-2-2-2 – $320,985 – 11 – 0 – NR
5 – Safe Conduct – 6-2-1-0 – $135,250 – Philip Serpe – 6 – 0 – NR

Honourable Mention: Hombre, Tio Magico, Avoman, Harlan Estate

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Munnyfor Ro Overcomes Wide Trip to Take Woodbine Oaks

Munnyfor Ro (Munnings) completed a quick-fire stakes double for her outstanding sire, overcoming a tough trip from a double digit gate to take out Sunday's C$500,000 Woodbine Oaks in Toronto.

Settled behind midfield through the opening furlongs, the $65,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase traveled four and five off the inside–though with some cover–down the backstretch and began working into it entering the final half-mile. Four deep for the run around the second turn, she sustained a long run despite the ground loss, hit the front in upper stretch and stayed on nicely to defeat Emmeline (Violence). Il Malocchio (Souper Speedy) was third. Minutes earlier, Munnings's Miss Alacrity stormed to victory in the Colleen S. at Monmouth Park.

Munnyfor Ro broke her maiden in career start number five over the Keeneland turf course while under the care of Brian Lynch ahead of a third to Gam's Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) in a first-level Churchill allowance May 8. Sixth to that foe in the GIII Regret S., Munnyfor Ro was a latest runner-up in the GIII Selene S. over this Tapeta track July 10.

“We were expecting a good performance out of her,” said winning trainer Kevin Attard. “She came up here this season in good shape from [trainer] Brian Lynch–had a great campaign over the winter time. She ran a fabulous race in the Selene. I thought she'd move off that race forwardly enough to kind of be really competitive here today. Had a good interim breeze and put it all together.”

For owner Rajendra Maharajh, it was a perfect day from start to finish.

“It's just a wonderful story and today's my mom's 80th birthday,” shared Maharajh. “Everybody is here with us, so it's a family day and a lovely day.”

Munnyfor Ro could take on the boys in the Aug. 22 Queen's Plate over a mile and a quarter, according to Attard, but would need to be supplemented to that first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

The winner's stakes-winning second dam is a full-sister to GI Ashland S. winner Little Belle, who has since gone on to produce Grade I-winning turf distaffer Dickinson (Medaglia d'Oro). Repartee is the dam of the 2-year-old filly Retort (Liam's Map) and a yearling filly by Unified.

Saturday, Woodbine
WOODBINE OAKS PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER, C$500,800, Woodbine, 8-1, (C), 3yo, f, 1 1/8m (AWT), 1:50.31, ft.
1–MUNNYFOR RO, 121, f, 3, by Munnings
                1st Dam: Repartee, by Distorted Humor
                2nd Dam: Dubai Dancer, by A.P. Indy
                3rd Dam: Dubai Belle, by Mr. Prospector
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. ($65,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Raroma
Stable; B-Daybar, LTD. (ON); T-Kevin Attard; J-Justin Stein.
C$300,000. Lifetime Record: GSP, 9-2-2-2, $320,985.
2–Emmeline, 121, f, 3, Violence–Babcock, by Uncle Mo.
($16,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-RCC Racing Stable Ltd. & Realm
Racing Stables; B-William D. Graham (ON); T-John Mattine.
C$100,000.
3–Il Malocchio, 121, f, 3, Souper Speedy–Egbert Bay, by Sligo
Bay (Ire). O/B-Franco S. Meli (ON); T-Martin Drexler.
C$50,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NO, 4 3/4. Odds: 3.35, 8.15, 13.00.
Also Ran: Youens, Curlin's Catch, Miss Marie, Erasmo's Girl, Lorena, Jilli Marie, Lady Moonshine.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Da Silva Named 2021 Avelino Gomez Memorial Award Winner

Eurico Rosa da Silva, one of Canadian Thoroughbred racing's most accomplished riders and popular personalities, has been named the 2021 recipient of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award. The Gomez Award is given to the person, Canadian-born, Canadian-raised or regular rider in the country for more than five years, who has made significant contributions to the sport. It is named in memory of one of the sport's most heralded and loved performers. The Cuban-born Gomez died of complications after a three-horse accident in the 1980 Canadian Oaks.

“What a nice surprise. Jessica Buckley [Woodbine Entertainment SVP, Standardbred & Thoroughbred Racing] called and told me,” da Silva said. “I was so happy. I didn't expect this, but I feel very lucky. This is a great award. I am so thrilled. I feel like I know Avelino. I have heard so many stories about him. I've heard how great he was as a rider and how the fans loved him. So, to win this award that is named after one of the best riders, it is amazing.”

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, da Silva launched his career in his homeland before moving to Macau. He recorded his first Woodbine victory on May 20, 2004, first topped the track's jockey standings in 2010 and won the riding title from 2015-2019. In 2018, he set the record for most wins in a single meet at Woodbine with 237 victories. A seven-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada's Outstanding Jockey, he also has victories in all three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown and racked up 2,286 total victories in his career.

Although presented annually on Woodbine Oaks day at Woodbine, this year's ceremony will take place Sept. 19 at Woodbine. With attendance currently limited to due COVID-19 restrictions, the September date will allow more fans to share in the festivities.

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Competitive Field of 10 in Woodbine Oaks

A pair of undefeated fillies lead the way in a 10-horse, wide-open renewal of the Woodbine Oaks Sunday. Brent and Russell McLellan and Gerry Olguin's Lorena (Souper Speedy) is three-for-three and was most recently a front-running 3/4-length winner of the seven-furlong Fury S. July 10. The dark bay filly, 2-1 on the morning line, will be trying a route for the first time in Sunday's nine-furlong Oaks.

“She's just done everything so well,” trainer Stuart Simon said of the filly. “She keeps taking steps forward. I'm not concerned about the distance. I'm a little concerned about running back in three weeks. It's a cramped schedule, but there's also only one chance to win the Oaks.”

Also three-for-three is Kevin Drew's Jilli Marie (Dynamic Sky), who won the South Ocean S. at Woodbine last November. She just got her nose in front on the wire while making her return in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer last time out July 2. The bay filly is 8-1 on the morning line.

“She's a really gritty filly,” said trainer Katerina Vassilieva. “She has a lot of heart. She's such a small horse in stature, but she has a ton of heart. She tries so hard in all of her races. She's fearless, she's patient–she has all the right qualities of a really good racehorse.”

Breeze Easy's Curlin's Catch (Curlin), a 3-1 shot on the morning line, was a late-closing third in the Fury S. and would seem to be ideally suited to the Oaks' nine-furlong distance. The bay filly won the Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs in February before fifth-place efforts against top company south of the border in the Feb. 27 GII Davona Dale S. and Apr. 3 GI Ashland S.

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