Local 'Gal' tops Lauries Dancer

FORT ERIE, Ontario - Monday could be a big day for apprentice jockey Kris Robinson, who will ride in both halves of the stakes doubleheader carded on the Civic Holiday program.

Robinson, 26, became a stakes-winning rider when he captured the Border Cup here two weeks ago aboard Prospective Gal.

Trained by Daryl Ezra, Prospective Gal will be the likely favorite in Monday's first stakes, the $60,000-added Lauries Dancer. The 1 1/16-mile race drew a field of six Canadian-foaled fillies and mares, 3 and up, who have started at least twice at the current meeting.

"Kris rode a perfect race in the Cup - you couldn't ask for a better ride," said Ezra.

"Against the locals, Gal is one of the better females on the grounds. She has shown progression in each of her four races this year. And she is probably one away from peaking."

Prospective Gal, a 5-year-old, is the top earner in the field with $214,533. She won the inaugural running of the Lauries Dancer last year. Her other 2001 stakes score was the Miss Moneypenny.

In the co-featured Cool Reception, which is the male version of the Lauries Dancer, Robinson will ride Internet Mania.

A 5-year-old gelding, Internet Mania will likely be an outsider as he has one win in 11 lifetime starts. He was a closing second in an allowance race July 23 behind Stronach Stable runner Dancing Bull.

Trainer Ralph Biamonte's entry of Yatsko and Good Company heads the six-horse Cool Reception.

Yatsko won the 1 1/16-mile Benburb here July 21. Good Company finished fourth in that race, which was on the turf, and is expected to move up on the dirt.

Trainer Myckie Neubauer has a runner in each stakes, with Go Figure in the Cool Reception and Fleet Deed in the Lauries Dancer.

Go Figure finished second to Yatsko in the Benburb, beaten just a half-length. Fleet Deed was fourth to Prospective Gal in the Border Cup.

"Fleet Deed stumbled and nose-dived coming out of the gate," said Neubauer, who is anticipating a better result Monday. Fleet Deed was a convincing winner in her last start.

o The Ontario Racing Commission has granted Robinson an extension of his apprentice allowance through to Nov. 7. Robinson will now campaign to ride at Woodbine on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, Fort Erie's dark days. Opportunities have opened up since Chantal Sutherland, who is Woodbine's second-leading rider, shed her bug status following Friday's program.