Hunt Master out to build on winning season opener
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Queen’s Plate nominee Hunt Master is among a diverse field of 10 in Friday’s seventh race at Woodbine, which combines nonwinners-of-three Ontario-sired allowance types with nonwinners-of-three $40,000 claimers.
At 2, Hunt Master finished third against some salty opposition in both his tries at the 1 1/16-mile distance of Friday’s feature. Perhaps his best race was a 2 1/2-length loss to the talented filly Souper Hoity Toity, who won the Grade 3 Selene here July 2.
In his June 2 season opener, Hunt Master ran down favored Uncle Joe in the final strides of a seven-furlong sprint for nonwinners of two, prevailing with a 71 Beyer Speed Figure.
Trainer Angus Buntain said he was thrilled to beat Uncle Joe in Hunt Master’s first start in six months.
“Uncle Joe was highly regarded coming off a big race,” Buntain recalled. “When [Hunt Master] rallied strongly and got by him late, it was really encouraging. He didn’t get a very big Beyer for the effort, but I’m not worried about that. It was the way he did it, and the way he galloped out was really good.”
Buntain said Hunt Master needs to put forth a competitive performance on Friday to punch his ticket to the $1 million Queen’s Plate here Aug. 21.
“He’s got to run well,” Buntain said. “I imagine he’ll be laying midpack and try to make a run. If he finishes up well and gallops out well afterwards, then if the owner agrees, the Plate would definitely be the next target. He’s bred for distance.”
Leading rider Kazushi Kimura will break Hunt Master from post 1. The son of Hunters Bay has worked strictly on the training track leading up to Friday’s engagement.
“He’s been breezing like a monster,” Buntain said. “This is a real big test. It’s his first try going a route while mature and strong and coming off a good race with some good works in the interim. He should run a good one. Kimura loves the horse.”
Hunt Master is owned by Susan Rasmussen’s Openwood Farm. She bred the gelding in a partnership and also co-bred Giant Teddy, a promising Ontario-bred sophomore who should be among the favorites Friday.
Giant Teddy passed his first two-turn test with flying colors June 19 against nonwinners-of-two rivals, winning by 5 3/4 lengths with an 85 Beyer. Trained by Julie Carey, Giant Teddy is currently ineligible for the Plate but can be supplemented for $25,000 on entry day.
Even though she’s taking on the boys, Il Malocchio could go favored after starting from the outside post. The Marty Drexler-trained 4-year-old is coming off a second-place finish in the Belle Mahone Stakes and also was third behind champion Letruska in the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream Park in February. Last year at 3, she won the Bison City here.