Excaper to defend Connaught Cup title

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Ian Black said Excaper is set for the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday after posting a bullet four-furlong work in 46.80 seconds on the turf training track here Sunday.

“That’s the plan,” Black said. “He worked well [Sunday] morning, and that’s what we’re going to do. Seven-eighths suits him pretty well.”

Excaper captured the 2014 Connaught Cup after tracking a quick pace set by Something Extra. He challenged for the lead at the top of the stretch and prevailed by a half-length, finishing just 0.15 seconds off the track record.

He’ll come into this year’s Connaught Cup off a bit of a freshening after making three starts over the winter on turf at Gulfstream Park, highlighted by a second-place finish to Mshawish in the El Prado Stakes on Dec. 13. His last race was a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Appleton Stakes on March 28.

Black said he was pleased with Excaper’s winter races and is happy with how the 6-year-old son of Exchange Rate is coming into the Connaught Cup.

“They were pretty tough spots, and he wasn’t beat very far,” he said. “I can’t really make any excuses for him, but I think he’s good right now, and he’s fresh.”