Gierkink's review: Speightsong a true Queen's Plate contender

Coming out party for Speightsong

Patrick Husbands won four races on the card, most notably the $150,000 Queenston Stakes on favored Speightsong, who stamped himself as a contender for the July 6 Queen’s Plate in the seven-furlong test. Speightsong inherited the lead when nobody else wanted it and set moderate fractions before drawing clear to prevail in 1:22.37 with an 83 Beyer Speed Figure. The Imposter finished a clear second, while reigning Canadian champion 2-year-old Go Greeley was a tired fifth in the six-horse field of Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Speightsong, a son of champion sprinter Speightstown, is a half-brother to last year’s Plate runner-up, champion Up With the Birds, who bombed in Saturday’s Grade 2 Dixie Stakes. His trainer, Malcolm Pierce, also won the nightcap with Machito.

Hillaby shines

The Mark Casse-trained Hillaby returned from an extended layoff to graduate convincingly under Husbands in the seventh. Her seven-furlong time of 1:22.45 wasn’t far off Speightsong’s good clocking. A 4-year-old Distorted Humor filly, Hillaby is the first foal from 2007 Canadian Horse of the Year Sealy Hill, who finished second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf under Husbands.

Horse to Watch

EIGHTY NINE RED
Trainer: Mike DePaulo
Last race: May 17, 8th
Finish: 3rd by 5 1/2
Beyer: 70

He lacked room on the turn before closing inside and galloped out decently in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes. The son of the late, great Ontario sire Bold Executive is eligible for a host of restricted stakes, and he could be an added-money winner in the making.