Dave the Knave up against elders
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dave the Knave, a prospect for the June 26 Queen's Plate, will launch his 3-year-old campaign against older rivals in Friday's second race at Woodbine, a six-furlong Ontario sire allowance.
Friday's nine-race card will mark the introduction of 20-cent superfecta wagers on Woodbine's live racing. The bet will be available through all self-serve terminals, with a minimum of five combinations per ticket.
Dave the Knave, a large chestnut gelding trained by Bob Tiller, won his Oct. 30 debut by six lengths with a solid 82 Beyer Figure. Four weeks later, he landed the 6 1/2-furlong Sunny's Halo Stakes by a neck over Out From Africa.
In his season finale going 1 1/16 miles in the restricted Kingarvie Stakes, Dave the Knave set a slow pace in the mud while running off the golden rail. He gave way grudgingly in deep stretch and dropped a neck decision to Enough Is Enough, who had saved ground throughout.
Dave the Knave is a half-brother to stakes winner Forever Grand, an earner of $966,632 who finished third in the 2002 Queen's Plate for Tiller. Tiller said the horses have vastly different dispositions.
"Dave the Knave doesn't have the nasty personality that Forever Grand has," Tiller said. "Forever Grand hurt some people in my barn."
Steven Bahen, who rode Dave the Knave in all three of his 2-year-old outings, has the mount.
Completing the field for Friday's feature are For Good Measure, Bullish Executive, Chemistry Class, Highland Presence, and Cabriolass.
For Good Measure makes his first start of the year Friday. He worked five-eighths twice in April and will be ridden by Ray Sabourin, who teamed up with For Good Measure's trainer, Phil Gracey, to win aboard Halograph on the second day of the meeting.
Cabriolass, another comebacker, recorded three consecutive 80-plus Beyers to cap his 2004 campaign. He won a $40,000 conditioned claimer in October, and was beaten a half-length when second in the Dec. 8 Sir Barton Stakes.
Chemistry Class was a close second over soft turf last August in the one-mile Vice Regent Stakes. He disappointed in his next two appearances, and was a wide fourth in his April 17 season opener in an allowance.
Bullish Executive finished about two lengths behind Chemistry Class in sixth after being interfered with in his seasonal debut. He captured a six-furlong Ontario sire allowance by nine lengths last July.