RAPS

QUEEN’S PLATE NEWS

Javier Castellano to ride Avie’s Flatter in 160th Plate

AVIE’S FLATTER, who has been favoured for the Queen’s Plate since he won the Coronation Futurity last fall at 1 1/8 miles on the Tapeta track for owner and breeder Ivan Dalos, will once again have Javier Castellano as his jockey come Plate day.

“I like the way he does everything,” Castellano said. “He can be on the lead. He can cover up.”

Castellano rode the 3-year-old son of Flatter to victory in the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland and then to a 6th at Churchill Downs in the Grade 2 American Turf. The top US rider has never won the Plate.

Avie’s Flatter, trained by 2-time Plate winning trainer JOSIE CARROLL by-passed the Plate Trial and is training into the race off those races.

The colt’s 1 mile workout on June 2 of 1:38 2/5 was, by accounts from those who watched it, was a stunning move.

He came back to work on June 10 (Monday) in 48 4/5 breezing.

The Coronation is the top 2-year-old race in Canada and tends to yield the early Plate favourite but with it comes Canada’s own version of the ‘Kentucky Derby Apollo’ jinx.

While not quite the same (the Derby jinx went on for 100 + years as Apollo had been the last horse to win the Derby having not run as a 2-year-old until Justify broke it in 2018), the Coronation winner has won come back the next year to win the Plate since Norcliffe did it in 1975 – 1976.

The Daily Racing Form reported that Eurico Da Silva, the leading rider, has surprisingly chosen SKYWIRE as his Plate mount over AVIE’S FLATTER.

Of course, Da Silva has been riding most of the starters for trainer Mark Casse sticking with Skywire seems to be a good way to stay in that fold.

SKYWIRE, 2nd in the Grade 3 Marine after his Wando Stakes win, is owned by Lou Tucci of Toronto and US owner Gary Barber. The colt worked 5 furlongs in 59 on June 9.

Meanwhile, agent Anthony Esposito reports that RAFAEL HERNANDEZ will ride Plate Trial Stakes winner PAY FOR PEACE for trainer Rachel Halden and owners Team Penney and Carem Racing.

JUSTIN STEIN will ride RISING STAR in the Plate. The Ghostzapper colt, claimed for $40,000 at Gulfstream, was a troubled 3rd in the Plate Trial.

The possible field is listed below:

AVIE’S FLATTER – Ivan Dalos homebred  Josie Carroll  87, 81, 80 by Flatter

SKYWIRE – Gary Barber, Lou Tucci, Tr- Mark Casse  87, 88, 66  worked Sunday, 59 flat  by Afleet Alex (bred by Bill Graham)

DESERT RIDE (filly)  Sam-Son Farms, Neil Howard,  83, 75, 73 by Candy Ride (arg)

ONE BAD BOY – SayJay Racing, Greg Hall, Brooke Hubbard, tr – Richard Baltas. 89, 85. 73 by Twirling Candy bred by Ron Clarkson

TONE BROKE – L and N Stable, tr – Steve Asmussen 81, Dubai Dubai, 77, 71 – Broken Vow, bred by Ron Clarkson

FEDERAL LAW – Qatar Racing, Tr- Mark Casse  68, 73, 75, by Scat Daddy; bred by Jim Dandy Stable

PAY FOR PEACE – Team Penney and Carem Stable (Lisa Mosa), tr – Rachel Halden  71, 64, 52; by Silent Name (Jpn); bred by Brian Lynch

BOLD SCRIPT – Chiefswood Stable, Tr- Stuart Simon. 82, 70, 79, by Speightstown

RISING STAR – Zilli Racing, tr – Mike DePaulo.  68, 65 66 by Ghostzapper

HBPA INVITES OWNERS TO TO SUNDAYS AT TRACKSIDE CLUBHOUSE

The HBPA of Ontario would like to invite all Owners to enjoy Sunday Mornings on the new Trackside Clubhouse Patio this summer at Woodbine.

Beginning this Sunday June 16 and every Sunday from 8am-10am. Relax and watch your horses train while enjoying refreshments courtesy of the HBPA of Ontario.

The HBPA encourages encourage all owners to bring friends and family members to help us showcase the thrill of thoroughbred ownership.

Directions to Trackside Patio (see map below):

Enter through Gate 9 and take immediate right turn – proceed through the tunnel and up the driveway to the Trackside Clubhouse parking lot. The entrance to the patio is on the right side of the Trackside Clubhouse building around the front (closest to the track). Stable Gate 7 (West side of stable area) will be open for ease of exit from the backstretch to proceed to Gate 9

For more information please contact Stacie Roberts 416-230-5190 or Lesley Barker 416-747-5252 ext. 24 or cell (416) 992-1094

OCALA BREEDERS’ SALES JUNE 2-YEAR-OLD SALE UNDERWAY

Mickey Demers has three for $102,000 so far

Canadians are shopping at the OBS June 2-year-old sale that ends today, Friday, in Ocala.

There are a number of Ontario breds and an Alberta-bred in the sale and Alberta’s MICKEY DEMERS has bought several.

Demers, who owns this year’s stakes winning sprinter Souper Success bought FOUR FILLIES AND A COLTa the sale s including a $52,000 filly by Constitution – Gradient by Flower Alley. Bred by John, Bernard and Karen McCormack the filly was originally a $60,000 weanling purchase.

Nick Gonzalez and Randy Howg/Big Tuff Stables were also Canadian buyers.

BLAIR MILLER, acting as agent, paid $37,000 for a colt from the first crop of graded stakes winner FRAC DADDY from the mare Champagne Dynasty. Bred by Mike Byrne and Brian O’Leary, the colt worked two furlongs in a quick 2 1/45 for the sale.

DON DANARD of Alberta bought a Tale of the Cat youngster for $23,000 and a Congrats filly for $25,000. SANDRA DOMINGUEZ bought a Flat Out juvenile for $5,000

ONTARIO-BREDS IN SALE WITH WORKOUT TIME/BUYER ETC.

65 G         F Silver Max Back to Class ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I Mickey Demers 20,000
99 out       C Honor Code Beth’s Bling ON Eddie Woods, Agent XLVII Withdrawn Out
144 out      F Sky Mesa Casey’s Dreamin’ ON Hidden Brook, Agent II Withdrawn Out
158 21.4   C Frac Daddy Champagne Dynasty ON Wavertree Stables, Inc. (Ciaran Dunne), Agent Blair Miller 37,000
161 G         C Silver Max Chapel Dancer ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I Mike Doyle Racing Stable Ltd. 2,000

192 21.0 C Competitive Edge Cool Slew ON Brick City Thoroughbreds Big Tufff Stables & R. Howg 20,000
205 11.1 F Shanghai Bobby Crispy ON Pick View LLC, Agent V        C H P R 10,000
270 out C Quality Road El Prado Essence ON Bobby Dodd, Agent I Withdrawn Out
312 10.3 C Goldencents Fredericka La Rose ON Blue River Bloodstock, Inc., Agent H & E Ranch 53,000
340 out F Silver Max Golden Scarf ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I Withdrawn Out
348 10.2 F Girolamo Got Smarts ON Sugar Hill LLC, Agent IV    Mickey Demers 30,000
352 10.1 F Constitution Gradient ON Bobby Dodd, Agent I          Mickey Demers 52,000
381 10.1 F Girolamo High On Kitten ON All Dreams Equine Aron S. Yagoda 30,000
382 out C Overanalyze High Tee ON Grassroots Training & Sales LLC Withdrawn Out
466 22.0 G Big Screen Lady Elena ON Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent I Mary T. Self / Tim Murray 12,000
497 11.0 F Conquest Curlinate Lileagh (IRE) ON Golden Noguez, Agent Hidden Brook, Agent 14,000
519 22.0 C Magician (IRE) Lyndenshire ON Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent I Ricardo Bailey 7,500
545 10.3 C Shanghai Bobby Midnight Embrace ON Hemingway Racing  Stables LLC, Agent Nick Gonzalez 20,000
600 out F Tale of the Cat My Sister Sandy ON Eddie Woods, Agent VIII Withdrawn Out
606 G F Point of Entry Naturally Smooth ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I C H P R 6,000
686 10.3 F Big Screen Prestissimo ON Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent II 11,000 Not Sold

835 11.3 F Summer Front Snow Lady ON Big Easy, Agent II Mickey Demers 9,000
876 out C Fort Larned Sugar Swirl ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I Withdrawn Out
886 22.2 F Jimmy Creed Sweetstart ON Point of Gravity Thoroughbred LLC Gary Contessa, Agent for Steven Wecker 20,000
909 10.0 C Atreides Tidal Surge ON Team Work Racing Corp., Agent I Mickey Demers 40,000
957 10.0 F Uncaptured Vegas Babe ON Whitman Sales LLC, Agent V 47,000 Not Sold
970 G F Point of Entry Way Smarter ON Kaizen Sales (Richard Kent), Agent I Crystal G. Pickett 3,200
1001 35.3 F Big Screen Falling Snow ON Santa Fe Thoroughbreds, Agent III 2,000 Not Sold
1044 10.2 C The Factor Songofthecity ON Bobby Dodd, Agent XV Nick J. Hines, Agent 35,000

ALBERTA BRED

805 NOT SOLD 29,000 10.2 F Take Charge Indy She’s Copacetic AB Niall Brennan Stables, Agent X