Gierkink's review: Selene stretch duel

Sunday, May 18 review

Exciting Selene Stakes

The Grade 3 Selene featured an intriguing matchup of the hard-trying double stakes winner Paladin Bay and the once-beaten 2-5 favorite My Conquestadory. Paladin Bay came inside the front-running My Conquestadory early in the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-old fillies, and they dueled from there with Paladin Bay ($8.90) scoring by a nose under a patient ride from Gerry Olguin. The final time of 1:43.96 was just .49 slower than what it took for the 4-year-old Sky Captain to win the next race, a second-level allowance/optional claimer. Paladin Bay earned an 81 Beyer.

After several bonuses were added to first money of $90,000, Paladin Bay earned a whopping $151,200 for owner Jessie Ladouceur, the wife of trainer Harold Ladouceur. She is now the clear-cut favorite for the June 15 Woodbine Oaks, a race for which the Kentucky-bred My Conquestadory is ineligible.

Trainer Mark Casse was pleased with the effort put forth by My Conquestadory. She had been idle since running fourth in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf due to a pulled muscle that she sustained in December. Casse was unsure when or where she would run back, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see her resurface on the grass, over which she captured the Grade 2 Summer Stakes last year.

Ross dominates baby race

Trainer John Ross sent out the top two finishers in the first 2-year-old race of the meet. His colt R U Watchingbud outran a filly he co-owns, Our Nat’s, to take the 4 1/2-furlong dash for Ontario-sired maidens. That heavily favored entry had worked together.

Ross, who winters at the Payson Park Training Center in Florida, enjoyed a highly productive 2013 with his juveniles, winning a host of stakes with Go Greeley and Lexie Lou.

Jackpot Hi 5 grows

The Jackpot Hi 5 hasn’t been won outright at the meet, and the carryover heading into the holiday Monday nightcap is $123,863.

HORSES TO WATCH

Ghost Forest
Trainer: Barb Minshall
Last race: May 18, 4th
Finish: 5th by 10 3/4
Beyer: 5
He gave the field about a 10-length head-start after breaking outward from the widest post in a short maiden special for 2-year-olds, before making up some ground and then galloping out well.

Royal Greatness
Trainer: Marty Drexler
Last race: May 18, 7th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/2
Beyer: 61
He was rank early while being rated and then awaited room on the turn before rallying steadily in his second race off the sidelines.