Da Silva reunites with former agent

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Perennial leader Eurico Da Silva was recently reunited with agent Tom Patton, and the Brazilian native is on target for another Woodbine riding title this year.

Following a car accident in 2017, Patton missed all of last year due to health issues. Early this month, he began booking mounts again for Da Silva, who was represented by Mike Luider during his hiatus. Luider, who recently picked up Luis Contreras, is the long-time agent for Emma-Jayne Wilson.

“I’m kind of refreshed,” Patton said. “I’ve been really lucky with the riders I’ve had. Eurico is very easy to work with. He’s a good rider, and he understands the game. That makes being an agent easier.”

After the first third of the 133-day meet was in the books last weekend, Da Silva had a 55-46 lead over Rafael Hernandez in the standings. Contreras and apprentice Kazushi Kimura were tied for third with 44 wins apiece.

Da Silva will ride Skywire in Tuesday’s $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the middle leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, at Fort Erie. Trained by Mark Casse, Skywire was favored in the June 29 Queen’s Plate, but was never in contention after getting wiped out at the break by Tone Broke in the $1 million Canadian classic.

Casse has a 36-29 advantage over Norm McKnight in the trainer standings. Robert Tiller ranks third with 19 wins. Marty Drexler has won 17 races, and Kevin Attard rounds out the top five with 16 wins.

Carroll has pair for Wales

Trainer Josie Carroll said she’s planning on running both Avie’s Flatter and He’s a Macho Man in the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales.

Reigning Canadian champion male 2-year-old Avie’s Flatter was a pace-pressing second to victorious One Bad Boy in the 10-furlong Plate, in which He’s a Macho Man rallied belatedly for fourth.

Carroll shipped both 3-year-olds down to Fort Erie to breeze five-eighths on the dirt on July 11. Working solo, Avie’s Flatter went in 1:00.20, and He’s a Macho Man went in 1:03.80.

“Avie’s Flatter always works well,” Carroll said. “The other horse was looking around a lot. I’m glad I took him down there. He’s a closer, so he’s used to having other horses around, and in front. A speed horse will work different than a closer. I was satisfied.”

◗ One Bad Boy had his final work in preparation for the Prince of Wales on Tuesday at Woodbine.

Breezing by himself over a slow Tapeta surface, the Richard Baltas-trained son of Twirling Candy went five-eighths in 1:02.60, after an opening three-eighths in 37.80 seconds. He was out three-quarters in 1:14.60 and up seven-eighths in 1:28.60.

After setting a slow pace, One Bad Boy won the Queen’s Plate by 3 1/2 lengths, with a Beyer Speed Figure of 94.