Alleged Ruler can help Niigon

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Queen's Plate winner Niigon is enjoying life on the farm these days, having been turned out for the season not long after running fourth in the Sept. 6 Pennsylvania Derby.

But his Chiefswood Stable compatriot Alleged Ruler is ready to pinch-hit here in Sunday's Ontario Derby, and he could do Niigon a good turn by knocking off A Bit O'Gold and Organ Grinder in the final open 3-year-old race of the meeting. A Bit O'Gold, Organ Grinder, and Niigon would have to be considered the leading candidates in the Sovereign Award voting for the division.

Alleged Ruler, meanwhile, is an A.P. Indy colt who had shown more potential than performance until he came up big in his last start here Sept. 24.

"I've always liked him," said Eric Coatrieux, private trainer for the Chiefswood Stable of Bob and Mark Krembil. "But after the Plate, I didn't know what was wrong with him. He trained well, but didn't show much in the afternoon."

Alleged Ruler, who won his maiden at 1 1/16 miles here May 29, was beaten 16 1/2 lengths as the seventh-place finisher in the 1 1/4-mile Plate on June 27. Then, after three more indifferent outings, Alleged Ruler was equipped with blinkers for his last start and was an impressive winner of a first-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

"I thought with the blinkers, he might jump up on the bit a little bit more," said Coatrieux. "And he did."

Alleged Ruler earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 88 for his latest performance, which came under new rider David Clark, who will be back aboard for the Ontario Derby.

Charming Proposal: One turn might not be ideal

Coatrieux and Chiefswood also plan to be represented here in Saturday's $150,000 Carotene, with Charming Proposal seeking her second consecutive win in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Charming Proposal ran well in her first two career outings this spring, winning for $62,500 at Gulfstream and finishing second in a first-level allowance at Keeneland, with both races over 1 1/8 miles of turf.

And although Charming Proposal failed to impress in her first four outings here, Coatrieux believes she was a victim of circumstances on those occasions.

"She had to run where she didn't fit in," said Coatrieux, noting that Charming Proposal had raced once on the main track and twice against older rivals. "She raced in some tough fields. And, I don't think this turf course really suits her. I'm just hoping she'll be able to overcome that."

That statement may seem odd considering that Charming Proposal is coming off a front-running romp at 1 1/4 miles on this very same course. Coatrieux, however, points out that the 1 1/4-mile race is a two-turn event, whereas the Carotene is run over a one-turn 1 1/8 miles.

"I think she's the kind of horse who needs two turns," said Coatrieux. "I think she'd be happier."

Mobil no longer sore

Mobil, last year's Ontario Derby winner, came out of his fifth-place finish here in the Sept. 19 Atto Mile a little the worse for wear, trainer Mike Keogh said.

"He jarred himself up pretty bad and came out quite sore in behind," said Keogh, who trains Mobil for owner-breeder Gustav Schickedanz. "He was turned out for a week, and when I started him back he took a while to come around, but he's training good now."

Mobil is slated to work this weekend and, all being well, could make his next start in the $150,000 Durham Cup, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and upward here Oct. 16.

Winning Chance, 5, retires to Adena Springs

Winning Chance, who has been haunted by the presence of One for Rose here over the past two seasons, has been retired.

A 5-year-old owned by Stronach Stable and trained by Danny Vella since the beginning of her 2003 campaign, Winning Chance will join the Adena Springs broodmare band.

"There's nothing really wrong with her," said Mike Rogers, who oversees the racing operation for Stronach Stable. "She's just been really good to the Stronachs, and they're happy with what she's done. There was only maybe the Maple Leaf left for her, anyway."

Winning Chance finished second to One for Rose in last year's edition of the Grade 3 Maple Leaf, a 1 1/4-mile race for fillies and mares that will be run this year on Nov. 13.

One for Rose also left Winning Chance in second place on five other occasions, although Winning Chance defeated her nemesis here in the June 20 Ontario Matron.

Winning Chance also won last year's Ontario Matron. She retires with a record of 7 wins, 8 seconds, and 2 thirds from 22 starts, for earnings of $651,443.

Kathern's Cat works before hitting Northlands

Kathern's Cat worked five furlongs in 1:03 on the main track here Wednesday and is headed for Northlands Park and Saturday's $40,000 Freedom of the City, a one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies.

A Kentucky-bred owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Reade Baker, Kathern's Cat will be ridden by top Alberta jockey Quincy Welch.

* Handicapping authorities Jim Bannon, Jim Mazur, and Peter Mallet will host a "Crushing the Cup" seminar here at 11 a.m. Saturday on the second floor of the grandstand. Free coffee and Danish will be served.

* Jockey Sunny Singh has been granted a15-day medical extension to his apprentice allowance, which now will terminate on Oct. 19.