Go Greeley will try seven furlongs in Queenston Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Go Greeley, last year’s Canadian champion 2-year-old, seems cranked up for his second start of the season Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Queenston Stakes, a seven-furlong test for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Go Greeley wintered at the Payson Park Training Center in Florida before returning here for the six-furlong Woodstock Stakes, finishing a distant third after tracking a hot pace.

Owner-trainer John Ross felt that Go Greeley needed that April 20 comeback, which was his first outing in 5 1/2 months. The large colt has since worked six furlongs twice.

“He had a puss pocket in Florida and I got behind on some workouts,” Ross recalled. “He’s had two good works, and with a race under his belt now, I feel better.”

Ross said he believes that seven furlongs is Go Greeley’s maximum distance.

“I wish it was six or six-and-a-half furlongs, but I think he’ll give it a good try at seven,” Ross said.

Gary Boulanger will ride 124-pound highweight Go Greeley, who is the lone Queenston entrant not eligible for the $1 million Queen’s Plate here July 6.

Eighty Nine Red is making his stakes debut off a victory in a five-furlong Ontario-sired allowance April 12, earning a 75 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I think seven-eighths shouldn’t be too much trouble for him,” said trainer Mike DePaulo. “He’s not a speedball. He can sit and wait.”

Sam-Son Farm’s Speightsong is a half-brother to Up With the Birds, Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old. Trained by Malcolm Pierce, Speightsong graduated at Fair Grounds in December before running fifth off a layoff in the March 22 Gazebo Stakes at Oaklawn. He is exiting an authoritative score in a seven-furlong optional claimer here April 27, when he earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.

Trainer Bob Tiller, who has won the Queenston four times, entered Spadina Road, The Imposter, and Tulio’s Brew.

Spadina Road is the most accomplished of the trio, having won the 1 1/16-mile Kingarvie Stakes for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds in December.

“He’s not really bred to go long, but he certainly did in his last start last year,” said Tiller. “We’re hoping for a good year from him. Whether or not the ultimate goal is the Plate, time will tell.”

The Imposter and Tulio’s Brew are both unbeaten in two starts. Tulio’s Brew has worked a bullet five-eighths since notching a seven-furlong Ontario-sired allowance win April 27.

Completing the field is Endeavor’s Dream, who wintered at Gulfstream before ending up second as the favorite in a seven-furlong allowance here April 19.

◗ Turf racing, which was scheduled to begin this weekend, has been postponed. There’s a special turf training session Sunday from 9:30 to 10 a.m. for horses nominated to two upcoming stakes, the Connaught Cup and Nassau.

“We were optimistic we could start this weekend,” said Steve Lym, Woodbine’s racing secretary and director of racing. “But because of the harsh winter we had, we felt that the course needed an extra week.”

Regular turf training commences May 21. Weather permitting, it will be conducted Wednesdays from 10 to 10:30 a.m.; Fridays from 9:30 to 10 a.m.; and Sundays from 9:15 to 10 a.m.

◗ Woodbine and the Ontario Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association are co-sponsoring a University of Guelph research update May 22 at 10:30 a.m. in the Northern Dancer Room at Woodbine. Among the topics to be discussed are the pros and cons of modern track construction and an update on umbilical cord blood stem cells and their use in the horse. To register, contact the HBPA office at 416-675-3802 or by email at cep@hbpa.on.ca.