Lokinforpursemonee doing what he does best in Queenston

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – After taking his season opener April 22 in the Woodstock Stakes, the aptly named Lokinforpursemonee seeks his second consecutive stakes win in Saturday’s $125,000 Queenston.

Owned and trained by John Ross, Lokinforpursemonee was among the leading 2-year-olds at Woodbine last year. He won back-to-back sprint stakes in the summer, the open Victoria and the restricted Simcoe, before posting mixed results in a series of route stakes in the fall.

Lokinforpursemonee rated kindly for Luis Contreras in the six-furlong Woodstock as Yorkton set a lively pace while being pressed by Marten River. The favored Uncle B loomed boldly entering the stretch, but Lokinforpursemonee rallied wide and prevailed in 1:09.16, which translated into a big 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I guess you could call him a come-from-behind sprinter,” Ross said. “That’s the way he likes to do it. I did try him long, and it didn’t work out, so I’ll keep him in the category he’s good at. I don’t think I’d run him any further than seven-eighths, or maybe a mile on the grass.”

Seven other 3-year-olds were entered in the seven-furlong Queenston, including the supplemented Rock You.

KEY CONTENDERS

Lokinforpursemonee, by Silent Name

Last 3 Beyers: 88-55-67

◗ Could he regress off his impressive comeback performance?

“He came out of his last race really well, and that’s what trainers like to see,” Ross said. “He’s eating good and feeling good, and we’re looking for a big effort from him.”

◗ Contreras retains the mount.

Yorkton, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 85-68-58

◗ After two dull efforts at Gulfstream, one on dirt and one on turf, he finished a creditable third in the Woodstock. Yorkton led most of the way in that race, pressed on his outside by Marten River, who is back in the Queenston.

Chiefswood Stable general manager Robert Landry said the homebred will have to learn to relax in order to reach his potential.

“He’s a really nice horse,” Landry said. “We’d just like to be able to harness his speed. I think if he had been on the outside of [Marten River], it might have made a little bit of a difference. When you take outside pressure all the way, it’s tough to relax. Apparently, the jock on the outside was chirping, just doing his job. It made him get on the bridle a little bit. He ran pretty quick early.”

Marten River, by Silent Name

Beyers: 75-70

◗ The speedy gelding went to the bench after an easy debut score last June and faded to fifth in the Woodstock in his return.

Woodbridge, by Langfuhr

Last 3 Beyers: 75-66-69

◗ He’s moving out to a suitable distance after finishing sixth in the Woodstock.