Addison may see repeat - and revenge

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Forever Grand and Small Promises, the winners of last year's Harry J. Addison Jr. and Harry A. Hindmarsh stakes, will be back at Fort Erie on Sunday to attempt to repeat.

The $75,000 events, upped from last year's $60,000 purses, are restricted to horses who were offered for sale at one of Woodbine's open yearling or 2-year-olds in training sales.

The Addison, for colts and geldings 3-years-old and up, drew a field of six, while the Hindmarsh, for fillies and mares of the same age, attracted just four. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.

Woodbine's leading trainer, Bob Tiller, who co-owns Forever Grand with Frank DiGiulio, is looking to make amends in the Addison.

Barbeau Ruckus, one of his five opponents, beat Forever Grand in the $128,000 Steady Growth over 1 1/16 miles at Woodbine on May 28. Barbeau Ruckus, who was making his second start of the year, rallied from last to gain the victory while Forever Grand finished a distant third.

"My horse got caught in a speed duel," said Tiller. "It didn't help him any."

Forever Grand, third in last year's Queen's Plate, has four starts this year and has won once, at six furlongs in Woodbine's $127,000 New Providence.

Martin Ramirez, Fort Erie's leading jockey, will ride Forever Grand.

Trainer Ross Armata has again engaged Woodbine rider Constant Montpellier to pilot Barbeau Ruckus, who finished second in his first start of the season there May 3. Montpellier holds the single-season record for most wins by a jockey at the Fort. In 1993, he scored 142 times.

Locally based Le Vainqueur, a five years old, finished second in last year's Addison.

In the Hindmarsh, it appears that Small Promises is the one to beat, even though she is winless in three starts this season. Last year, she won a Sovereign Award as Canada's champion older filly or mare.

In her last start, Small Promises finished third in Woodbine's $189,000 Ontario Matron Handicap. In front of her in the field of nine were Frank Stronach's red-hot filly, Winning Chance, and last year's Labatt Woodbine Oaks winner, Ginger Gold.

Small Promises, 5, finished second in the Grade 3 Sabin Handicap at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 8. She is trained by Roger Attfield, and Neil Poznansky picks up the mount.