Passion for Action's next start will be Play the King
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Passion for Action recorded his second graded stakes win of the Woodbine meet when he rallied from off the pace in the Grade 2 Highlander Stakes on July 3, and he’ll make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Play the King Stakes on Aug. 20, trainer Mike De Paulo said.
“That’s the race he’s pointing for,” he said. “He’s doing us proud. We gave him a little break. We’ll get a few works into him, and off we go.”
Passion for Action returned to the work tab Sunday with a five-furlong breeze in 1:03.80 on the turf training track.
Along with his win in the Highlander, Passion for Action has won the Jacques Cartier Stakes and the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes and finished second in the Grade 2 Connaught Cup. A strong run in the Play the King over seven furlongs on turf could set him up for the Grade 1, $1 million Woodbine Mile on Sept. 17, De Paulo said.
“That’s the ultimate goal,” he said. “That’s what [owner-breeder Benjamin Hutzel] wants to try to do, so that’s what we’re going to try to do. It’s our home base, too.”
It’s been a big year for both horse and trainer. De Paulo found the winner’s circle in the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes on Sunday with Caren, giving him seven stakes wins for the meet. He’s tied with Mark Casse for the meet lead among trainers.
Noholdingback Bear eyes King’s Bishop
De Paulo’s 3-year-old sprinter Noholdingback Bear was a game runner-up against older horses in the Grade 3 Bold Venture Stakes on July 23 and could be headed to Saratoga for the Grade 1, $500,000 King’s Bishop Stakes over seven furlongs on dirt Aug. 27.
De Paulo had considered the Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga on July 30 for Noholdingback Bear but decided to run in the Bold Venture instead. However, a lack of sprint options on the main track available to American-bred horses at Woodbine over the next couple of months could force De Paulo to look elsewhere.
“There’s really nothing for him here, but we’re taking a hard look at the King’s Bishop at Saratoga,” De Paulo said.
Noholdingback Bear was the 2-5 favorite in the Bold Venture. He dueled for the early lead with Choctaw Chuck but couldn’t hold off Puntrooskie in the final stages of the race. De Paulo said a quick turnaround after setting a 6 1/2-furlong track record in an allowance race July 1 could have contributed to the loss.
“We were back in three weeks,” he said. “It was a little close after breaking the track record. I expect him to run really well no matter where he goes.”