Block ships to Canterbury hoping for dry weather

The Chicago-based trainer Chris Block has live shots to fire Monday at Canterbury Park – unless they thud into a wall of mud.

Winning Envelope is the most likely winner of the $50,000 Northbound Pride Oaks, while Savage Battle stands a good chance in the $50,000 Honor the Hero. But both races are carded for turf and the local forecast calls for heavy rain Monday afternoon.

Block watches the weather as diligently as anyone and regardless of the ugly forecast ships the two horses from Arlington on Sunday.

“If I don’t go and the weather pattern changes, I’m going to look like a real heel,” Block said. “So, I got to go, play it out and see what happens.”

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Winning Envelope probably will take her spot in the gate even if the one-mile Northbound Pride Oaks is rained onto dirt. Winning Envelope in her lone dirt race finished fourth, beaten 10 lengths by Black-Eyed Susan Stakes-winner Point of Honor, in the Suncoast at Tampa Bay Downs. Switched back to turf there for the Grade 3 Florida Oaks, Winning Envelope endured a difficult trip and though sixth, was beaten less than two lengths by victorious Concrete Rose, the filly who upset Newspaperofrecord in the Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Block said Winning Envelope struggled over soft turf at Keeneland while trying to mount a rally on the far turn of the Appalachian Stakes before a solid stretch run propelled her into fifth of 11. Put it all together and Winning Envelope is set to win her first stakes since owner Bob Lothenbach, whose home track is Canterbury, privately purchased her following a sharp debut win last summer.

Another Chicago shipper, O’Keefe, has ample talent but has yet to race around two turns or on turf. Trainer Brad Cox, who has been rolling for the better part of two months, sends in Support, who can contend whether on turf or dirt.

The five-furlong Honor the Hero drew an overflow field and is packed with pace. Savage Battle, who likes to stalk and pounce, is in line for a favorable setup – if he gets a chance to start. In turf sprints, Savage Battle has gone 4-1-2 from nine races and came to hand nicely over the winter at Fair Grounds, finishing second to the capable Chaos Theory in the Feb. 16 Colonel Power Stakes. Savage Battle got an early spring freshening and has worked steadily for this.

“What we saw in New Orleans I think can transfer here,” said Block.

If the race is rained onto dirt, also-eligible Sir Navigator is likely to draw in and looks live in his first race following a $40,000 claim by trainer Robertino Diodoro. Majestic Pride is entered for his first start since October but can fire fresh and has performed well before playing the role of one-run closing sprinter.