Military Time begins march toward King's Plate in Queenston
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The road to the Aug. 15 King’s Plate begins in earnest Sunday at Woodbine when Military Time heads a field of six Canadian-bred 3-year-olds in the $125,000 Queenston Stakes at seven furlongs.
Trained by Mark Casse for Gary Barber and St. Elias Stable, Military Time earned a big 80 Beyer Speed Figure when romping on debut in a Tapeta sprint last August. After a flat fifth in a subsequent turf experiment in the Cup and Saucer Stakes, the son of Gun Runner ran second as the favorite in the Coronation Futurity before getting the winter off in Florida.
Following a five-month layoff, Military Time returned in a seven-furlong allowance on May 2. He stalked on the outside in second over a track favoring inside speed before going on to score by 4 1/2 lengths with an 81 Beyer under Fraser Aebly.
“We were extremely happy with his last outing,” said assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan. “He ran a good race and showed that he’s continuing to progress. He came out of it in great shape and he’s worked very well in the lead-up to this race.”
Casse also entered Believein, who was promoted from second to first after the disqualification of his stablemate Willful Warrior in a seven-furlong maiden special here May 3. He was previously fifth and third in a pair of maiden specials at Gulfstream Park. Romero Maragh inherits the mount from Aebly on the gelded son of Blame.
Highwaytothemoon could lead the way under Rafael Hernandez. He won a 5 1/2-furlong allowance from just off the pace April 19 and was softened up in a speed duel most recently when second to favored Casson in the seven-furlong King Corrie Stakes.
Trainer Dale Desruisseaux believes that six furlongs is the ideal distance for Highwaytothemoon, a son of Ransom the Moon.
“I think seven-eighths is a little bit of a stretch for him,” Desruisseaux said. “I’m kind of limited to the 3-year-old races, because he’s won his [first-level] allowance condition already. It’s either run him for a tag or run him in the stakes that are offered.”
Trainer Kevin Attard sends out front-runner Thundermaker, who has won his last two outings, both under Pietro Moran. He was tagged for $40,000 when graduating in November and got a 79 Beyer when beating nonwinners-of-two opponents following a winter layoff going seven furlongs May 2.
Brachetto was reluctantly loaded into the gate before winning his May 10 season opener in a six-furlong maiden special with a 78 Beyer. Ryan Munger will ride the son of Vekoma again for trainer Julia Carey, who has good numbers second-time off a layoff.
Rounding out the field is Amore Mio, who is starting for the first time since a distant fifth-place finish in the Nov. 29 Coronation Futurity. He graduated in a slowly run maiden route on the inner turf in late September for trainer Pat Parente.
Post time for the 10-race card is 1 p.m. The Queenston goes as the eighth at 4:50 p.m.
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