The Minkster holds off crowd in Queenston Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Minkster remained unbeaten with a gutsy 8-1 score over a solid field in his season opener at Woodbine in Sunday’s $125,000 Queenston Stakes, a prep for the $1 million Queen’s Plate.
The Minkster tracked front-running His Time on the backstretch through honest fractions before hitting the front around the quarter pole in the seven-furlong sprint for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.
Ironstone and the favored Duke of Love were in contention throughout, and Rondure mounted a furious wide rally from a trailing seventh, but The Minkster held sway to prevail by a head in a posted final time of 1:21.01. The Minkster is now 3 for 3.
Ironstone finished another head back in third, and Duke of Love wound up fourth. Hidden Honor, Sir for Sure and His Time completed the order of finish.
David Moran rode The Minkster, a son of English Channel, for trainer Danny Vella.
“When I was sitting second to (Patrick Husbands on His Time) I was happy,” Moran said. “The plan was just to stalk him anyway. I was happy to have Ironstone locked on my inside. He traveled lovely. I saw Patrick struggling halfway around the bend. My guy came on the bridle at that point. I just let him at it, and he ran right to the wire. Actually, he got a little bit bored by himself for a couple of strides until the other ones came. Then, he galloped out nice again.”
The Minkster ($19.10) earned $75,000 for Ray and Debbie Burke’s Sea Glass Stables.
The Minkster figures to make his next start July 24 in the Plate Trial Stakes, which would be the colt’s final prep for the Aug. 21 Queen’s Plate, a race Vella has won twice before.
“The Plate Trial is probably our next goal,” Vella said.