Kabel chases old Ontario stakes mark

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dashing Admiral will go from turf to dirt and likely be favored in Wednesday's $132,500 Deputy Minister Stakes, a seven-furlong dash for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds at Woodbine.

Dashing Admiral has two wins and three thirds in six starts this year, all under Todd Kabel. Kabel would equal Avelino Gomez's single-season record of 32 stakes wins by a jockey in Ontario with a victory in the Deputy Minister. Gomez set the record in 1966.

Dashing Admiral won his first two starts of the year, including the six-furlong Bold Ruckus Stakes over a course labeled good. He was third behind the tough twosome of Twisted Wit and Cut and Shoot in the July 1 Achievement Handicap, then fourth against older runners in an $80,000 optional claimer, also on the main track.

Dashing Admiral was the 4-5 favorite two starts ago, in the Vice Regent, and ran third after pressing slow fractions. Trainer Sid Attard said the soggy conditions hindered his colt's chances in that Ontario Sire Stakes.

"He didn't like the soft going that day," Attard said. "Todd Kabel thought he would have won the race, if it wasn't soft."

Last time, in a seven-furlong optional claimer, Dashing Admiral finished a fast-closing third after a troubled trip, while facing some talented older opposition.

"He got shut off really bad," Attard said. "He was inside, and then had to go outside. Kabel thought he should have won the race."

Regarding the move back to the main track, Attard said: "I don't think it will bother him much. I think he's better on the grass, but he'll run good on the dirt, too."

Archers Bow and Chemistry Class, who ran first and second in the Vice Regent, are both in the Deputy Minister lineup.

Archers Bow won the Vice Regent by a neck and finished three lengths back in second in the Bold Ruckus. He earned a low Beyer Speed Figure the last time he tried the dirt, on July 28 in a mile-and-70-yard Ontario-sired allowance.

Chemistry Class ran well on both surfaces this summer, but is coming off a subpar showing in an open allowance.

Millfleet was third in back-to-back Ontario-sired allowances heading into an open allowance most recently, when he overcame minor traffic problems to finish second to X Box.

Millfleet's half-brother, Norfolk Knight, upset Mobil in Saturday's Durham Cup Handicap. Both horses have the same connections, including jockey Jill Scharfstein.