Notorious Gangster catches Regal Guest late in Queenston Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Notorious Gangster rallied steadily under a red-hot Fraser Aebly to take Sunday’s $125,000 Queenston Stakes, an early prep for the $1 million King’s Plate at Woodbine.

Notorious Gangster ($13) saved ground in fourth on the turn before kicking in nicely through the stretch to collar the front-running Regal Guest late in the seven-furlong event, prevailing by a half-length in a time of 1:23.36 seconds.

Favored Dewolf faded to third after attending the slow pace in his first start of the year. Lucky Guest, Mansetti, Flirting With Fire, and Forty N Five rounded out the field of Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

“He broke very sharply for me,” said Aebly, who won his third straight race on the card. “By the three-eighths pole, we found ourselves into some nice position. He ran real hard for me on the way home. He’s definitely grown up and matured a lot since last year. I think I fit him very well. He’s very special.”

Notorious Gangster earned $75,000 in his second stakes score. He also won the nine-furlong Coronation Futurity in November for owner Mark Dodson and trainer Josie Carroll.

“I have no doubt he’s a route horse,” Carroll said. “We just sharpened him up today. I said to Fraser, don’t take him off his game, but if you can attend the pace a little more than he normally does… I think he’s a two-turn horse. He just loves to run. From the day he first had him, I told Mark Dodson he’s just a little fighter. Any time he worked with another horse, he just pinned those ears and wanted his nose in front.”

Carroll said she will now ponder all options for the son of Classic Empire when deciding the colt’s path to the Aug. 16 Plate.

“We’ll look at how he comes out of the race,” Carroll said. “He’s got a little time to freshen now. That’s really why I came back with this race. I wanted to get two good races in him and then I can pick and chose.”

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