Da Silva on track for a fourth straight riding title

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After missing the first portion of the meet due to suspension, Eurico Da Silva appeared to have his work cut out for him in his quest to be Woodbine’s leading rider for a fourth straight year.

Rafael Hernandez opened up a substantial lead in the standings in the spring, but a surging Da Silva blew by him in mid-summer and is on target for his fourth straight 200-plus win total at the meet.

“It was very hard for me to miss those two weeks, especially when you’re working horses in the morning,” Da Silva said. “There were a few horses that I was working that won. We’re going at a hot pace now. Who knew I would win so many races? I’m happy, but I don’t want to celebrate anything. I just want to keep focusing on every race until Dec. 16. That’s my goal. Not thinking about any result. I’m doing a lot of meditation, and that helps me to relax.”

Da Silva has a 6-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter. His wife, Orlaith Cleary, is pregnant with their second child.

“I’m very happy, and I have a great wife to support me,” Da Silva said. “That makes a lot of difference.”

Da Silva has been leading rider at the meet four times, including in each of the past three years. Through last Sunday, the 43-year-old Brazilian had won on 154 of 561 rides, and his mounts have earned more than $7 million.

◗ Last Sunday’s 10th race appears to have been run in a time slower than the Gmax clocking on the official chart. Won by Marten Lake, the six-furlong starter-optional claimer is listed with a final time of 1:08.86, which isn’t far off Pink Lloyd’s track record of 1:08.05. Hand-timing of the race indicated that it should be in the neighborhood of 1:09.60. The Trakus time for it, which is posted on Woodbine’s website, is a pedestrian 1:10.50.

The time of the Sept. 15 Woodbine Mile also is in question. The official time on the chart is 1:33.12, but extensive hand-timing of the Grade 1 event indicated that it’s approximately 1:34, which is comparable to the Trakus time of 1:34.03, which also is posted on the Woodbine website.

◗ Da Silva will ride Get Explicit in Friday’s headliner, a second-level optional claimer scheduled for a 1 1/16 miles in lane 2 on the grass. She’s turning back off a second in the 12-furlong Flaming Page Stakes.

Get Explicit will face five others if the race stays on turf, including Kylla Instinct, who has been competitive against similar throughout the meet while being chased by the steady Juenesse Doree, who also is in this field. Rounding out the field are Liberty Kitten, Miss Sea, Sailor’s Thought, and main-track-only entrant Daddy’s Great Bay.