Gierkink review: Speightsong emerges as Queen's Plate prospect

Sunday, April 27, review

No stakes on the 10-race card. The allowance prep for the May 19 New Providence Stakes was the season debut for 2013 Canadian champion sprinter Phil’s Dream, who shockingly ran second at 3-10. Citius, a solid $40,000 claimer in 2013, swooped by Phil’s Dream on the outside at the eighth pole before edging away to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:03.44 for the 5 1/2 furlongs.

Citius ($8.60), who won the 2010 Frost King Stakes and the 2011 Bold Ruckus Stakes, was the less-fancied half of the Ralph Biamonte-trained entry with Jenna’s Wabbit, who trailed after dueling up front in his first outing in a year.

Urban Forester manhandled a top-notch field of second-level optional claimers in the fifth after a perfect stalking trip on the outside, giving owner Bruno Schickedanz and trainer Norm McKnight their third winner of the weekend. Gulfstream shipper Wonderful Breeze finished a clear second after battling up front with a bouncing Northern Hammer, who faded to seventh as the second choice.

Queen’s Plate prospect Speightsong won the ninth race comfortably, giving Patrick Husbands a hat trick on the program. Speightsong covered seven furlongs in 1:23.20 in the optional claimer, earning an 81 Beyer Speed Figure. The son of champion sprinter Speightstown has yet to compete around two turns, and it will be interesting to see how far the Malcolm Pierce-trained Sam-Son Farm homebred can go.

Leading rider Luis Contreras doubled up on the card, as did trainer Bob Tiller, who leads the standings with seven wins from 20 starters. They combined to take the nightcap with Maythefourthbwithu, who made amends after being a beaten favorite in each of her two previous tries at the non-winners-of-two Ontario-sired allowance class.

Horses to watch

Plenty Elusive
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Last race: April 27, 5th
Finish: 5th by 4 1/4
Beyer: 76
He dropped back after being steadied while in tight on the backstretch before making up some ground in a tough seven-furlong optional claimer. It was his first appearance in more than two months, and he should be more effective next time.

Bear’s Profit
Trainer: Reade Baker
Last race: April 27, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 1/2
Beyer: 64
He stumbled at the break before running prominently along the inside at first asking in a five-furlong maiden special weight race, after which he galloped out nicely. The handsome son of Exchange Rate appears to possess above-average potential.