Avoman surges late to take Plate Trial Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Avoman had clear sailing on the outside and got the job done in Sunday’s $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine, a prep for the $1 million Queen’s Plate here Aug. 22.
Avoman ($5.10) trailed the four-horse field going down the backstretch in the nine-furlong test for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds. Derzkii set a dawdling pace with Truffle King in close proximity, while H C Holiday saved ground in third.
Avoman loomed into contention outside of the leaders at the quarter pole, and then took control in late stretch to win by three-quarters of a length, in a time of 1:52.84.
Truffle King crossed the wire second, but was disqualified to fourth for interfering with Derzkii at the eighth pole. H C Holiday, who was barely favored over Avoman, inherited second, and Derzkii was promoted from fourth to third.
Antonio Gallardo rode Avoman for trainer Donnie MacRae, who co-owns the son of Old Forester with La Huerta Inc.
“This was probably one of the greatest feelings in the world, except for my wife and baby,” MacRae said. “We had high hopes for this horse from the start. This is a dream come true for all of us, and it’s exciting because it does lead us to the big dance.”
Avoman earned $94,500 in his second stakes triumph. He broke his maiden in the 7 1/2-furlong Bull Page Stakes around two turns on the inner turf here at 2.