Fogerty out for three wins, no losses

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Fogerty will put his unbeaten record on the line Wednesday at Woodbine in the $107,200 Bold Ruckus Stakes, a six-furlong turf dash for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds.

Fogerty, a handsome chestnut gelding by Highland Ruckus, took no prisoners on the front end when he debuted in a five-furlong maiden special Sept. 15. He opened up a two-length lead in the stretch after putting away several early challengers, and got home on top by 3 1/2 lengths in a quick time of 57.20 seconds.

Fogerty's only other outing came in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance May 12, in which he prevailed in front-running style while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 78.

Trainer Bob Tiller said that Fogerty was injured after his opener. "He had some surgery on one knee," Tiller said. "It was very successful. He's doing good."

Tiller said he's unsure as to how Fogerty will handle the grass. "We don't know how that turf course is going to be," he said. "I don't even know if they'll run on it. The only turf he's seen is the one he's been chewing on."

Constant Montpellier, who rode the Tiller-trained Win City to victory in Saturday's Plate Trial Stakes, retains the mount on Fogerty.

Completing the Bold Ruckus lineup are San Mont Andreas, Tobias, Attobigboy, Starbeau, Zuckabarr, Ruby Shoes, Kings Reception, and Deputy Ruler.

The entry of Tobias and Starbeau, both sons of Barbeau trained by Mike Keogh, should be well-backed. Tobias ran one of the fastest 2-year-old races at Woodbine last year when he won his maiden while earning a Beyer Figure of 93, but he was shelved for the remainder of 2000 after that Sept. 17 maiden event.

"He came out of that race with a condylar fracture," Keogh revealed. "He had two screws inserted in his cannon bone."

Tobias was second in his lone start this year in a six-furlong allowance. He finished third and fifth in his two turf outings as a 2-year-old.

"I wouldn't say that he steps up on it," said Keogh, when questioned about Tobias's prowess on turf, "but he didn't run bad on it. His second start was pretty decent.'

Starbeau finished within two lengths of the winner in each of his two most recent starts, maiden special routes over the Pimlico grass, when he was trained by Holly Robinson.

"He's starting to come around," said Keogh. "Holly felt he'd be better off sprinting, so we decided to sent him up for this race and give him a shot."