Dos Ramos lands Plate mount
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey Richard Dos Ramos can list victories in the Canadian International, the Molson Export Million, and the Labatt Woodbine Oaks among the highlights of his 22-year career.
But Dos Ramos, 40, will not consider his portfolio to be complete until he wins a Queen's Plate, and until late Monday afternoon it appeared he would have to wait at least another year for his next shot at it.
That's when Phil Serpe, trainer of New York-based Queen's Plate candidate Sircharlesschnabel, informed Dos Ramos's agent, Lorne Spearman, that he had the call for Sunday's $1 million race.
"We were just waiting to see on a New York rider," said Serpe, "but it wasn't going to happen."
Serpe had been unfamiliar with Dos Ramos but was intrigued by the fact that the jockey's record included wins aboard Benburb here in the 1992 Molson Export Million and Thornfield in the 1999 Canadian International, not to mention three wins in the Oaks.
"That's what you need, guys with big-race experience," said Serpe.
Sircharlesschnabel, who is due to arrive Friday, won his maiden impressively over 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park in the mud on June 5.
* Shoal Water was the only Plate probable to work Tuesday, breezing five furlongs on the main track under new rider Robert Landry.
Owned by Sam-Son Farm and trained by Mark Frostad, Shoal Water was clocked in 1:00.40, going in company with stablemate Sky Chariot, a turf stakes winner who was timed in 1:00.60 under assistant trainer Hugh Chatman. "I broke off in front of him," said Chatman, "and he cruised on by me down the lane."
Sunday's card also includes the Nearctic Handicap, a Grade 2, $250,000 race for 3-year-olds and upward. Nuclear Debate, who won last year's running of the six-furlong turf race, checked in from California Monday for trainer Darrell Vienna and will be looking to duplicate that feat at the age of 8.
Nuclear Debate is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Aegon Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs, after a slow start and a wide trip.