March to the Arch sharp for bid at King Edward repeat
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Horse-for-course March to the Arch will try to win the Grade 2, $175,000 King Edward for the second year in a row Sunday. The one-mile main turf event is a key prep for the Sept. 18 Woodbine Mile, a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifier.
March to the Arch was a powerful come-from-behind winner of the 2020 King Edward, after which he finished a troubled second in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. This year, he ran second to Mighty Heart in his season opener in the Grade 3 Dominion Day on the Tapeta, and is coming off a 4 1/2-length score in the Niagara Stakes going about 1 1/8 miles on the main turf course.
“He’s a tough old boy, who has come back this year as strong as ever,” trainer Mark Casse said. “His last race was very impressive. He sat back – they set up a little pace for him – and he came running. He’s cutting back for this race, but I don’t think that should be a big issue.”
Casse said the 6-year-old Live Oak homebred has gotten better over time.
“Early on, he didn’t show a whole lot,” Casse recalled. “It took him a while, but when he did put it all together, he did it well. He really has become better with age.”
Casse also sends out the win-shy stretch-runner Olympic Runner, who came up a neck short of Avie’s Flatter in the Grade 3 Connaught Cup here July 18.
“He runs really well,” Casse said. “He just doesn’t get there quite as much as you would like to see. He kind of gets himself into trouble. I’m always making excuses for him, but I’ve come to the conclusion that he does it. He gets into trouble on tighter turns, so I think he enjoys the Woodbine turf course. We’re hoping he’s good enough for the Woodbine Mile.”
Avie’s Flatter was victorious in the Grade 3 Transylvania in his 2019 opener at Keeneland, but he lost his next eight starts while displaying hanging tendencies. Avie’s Flatter got back on the beam this year with back-to-back victories over seven furlongs in a conditioned allowance and the Connaught Cup, for which he got a career-high 97 Beyer Speed Figure.
“We always knew he was a good horse,” owner Ivan Dalos said. “Last year wasn’t a good year for him. He had all kinds of problems, but it looks like he’s back to his old self.”
Trainer Josie Carroll entered Avie’s Flatter and the mare Jolie Olimpica. Jolie Olimpica bled without Lasix during the winter at Santa Anita before winning the Grade 2 Nassau with Lasix here July 24.
Front-runners Town Cruise and Gray’s Fable, along with shippers Valid Point and Alfons Walde complete the field.