Woodbine
Matador finds soft spot Wednesday at Woodbine
Michael Burns Matador (left) wins the Cup and Saucer Stakes by a nose over Cool Faith on Sunday.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Matador was scratched out of Sunday's Marine Stakes and should be heavily favored in a first-level optional claimer on Wednesday’s first night card of the meet.
“We’ve been running him against the heavyweights all winter long, and his confidence has to be on the low side,” trainer Mark Casse said. “I thought our best chance to have a shot at the Queen’s Plate is to have this horse get some confidence.”
Queen’s Plate prospect Leif Erikson appears to be Matador’s toughest competition Wednesday and will stretch out around two turns after finishing third to Queenston Stakes winner Speightsong on April 27.
Dig Alittle Deeper, Tuscan Getaway, and Glenstal Abbey round out the five-horse field.