Phil's Dream finds softer spot in Ontario Jockey Club

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Paul Buttigieg was hoping an easier spot than Sunday’s Grade 2 King Edward Stakes would fill for his stable star, Phil’s Dream. He got his wish when an overnight stakes Saturday at Woodbine, the $100,000 Ontario Jockey Club, went with the minimum five entrants required.

Phil’s Dream, last year’s Canadian champion sprinter, defeated Ontario-sired opposition in his second race off the bench May 19 in the six-furlong New Providence Stakes.

Buttigieg was awed by Phil’s Dream’s five-furlong breeze in 59.60 seconds June 12, when he said the 6-year-old gelding galloped out seven-eighths in the neighborhood of 1:23.

“He’s better than ever,” Buttigieg said. “He’s on top of his game.”

The Ontario Jockey Club is worth $160,000 to Phil’s Dream when bonuses are added for Ontario-bred entrants who are Ontario-sired.

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“Why run against the nuts in the King Eddy when I don’t have to yet?” Buttigieg said.

The six-furlong Ontario Jockey Club also lured Buttigieg’s longshot layoff runner, True Executive, and the Chicago shipper Massive Explosion, who was supplemented for $2,000.

Go Blue Or Go Home, a versatile Grade 3 stakes winner, should be the second choice in the betting off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes. He worked a bullet five-eighths over the training track last Saturday for trainer Reade Baker.

Casse has pair for Victoria

Trainer Mark Casse entered Conquest Tsunami and Conquest Typhoon in the first stakes for 2-year-olds of the meet, the Victoria, a five-furlong dash worth $125,000.

Conquest Tsunami turned heads in his debut in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special at Keeneland on April 25, when he romped by 6 1/4 lengths as the favorite in a quick time of 51.06 seconds.

Casse said the well-regarded Conquest Tsunami has not had smooth sailing leading up to the Victoria.

“He’s had a little bit of skin disease, but he worked really well the other day,” Casse said. “He’s been on our ‘A’ team since the time he started breezing.”

The unraced Conquest Typhoon, a $330,000 yearling purchase, is an Ontario-bred son of Stormy Atlantic. Patrick Husbands was named on both Conquest Stable runners.

Creaky Cricket ships in from Arlington off an 11 1/2-length debut score in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special on Polytrack, earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. Trainer Mike Dini supplemented him at a cost of $2,500, and former Chicago rider Jesse Campbell has the mount.

R U Watchingbud graduated at first asking here May 18 for trainer John Ross, who campaigned last year’s Canadian champion 2-year-old, Go Greeley.

Completing the Victoria lineup are the maiden Honkeytonk Man and Less Than Perfect, a debut winner at Presque Isle Downs.

Seffeara to await Clarendon

Trainer Steve Owens said he bypassed the Victoria with track-record breaker Seffeara in favor of the $150,000 Clarendon Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong dash for Ontario-breds here July 12.

Seffeara ran five furlongs in a sizzling 51.01 while earning his diploma first time out June 8 by nearly 12 lengths under a hand ride from Gary Boulanger. He earned an 82 Beyer in the maiden special for Ontario-sired juveniles.

“He was very impressive,” Owens said. “He’s big, but he’s pretty athletic. His first work, he breezed [a quarter-mile] in 23 by himself and did everything properly. He progressed from week to week and never missed any training. He did everything we asked of him. He’s been so professional with his work ethic.”

Seffeara was bred and is owned by Owen’s wife, Beverly, who races under the name Empress Stable.

◗ Famed handicapper and author Andy Beyer will conduct a seminar at the east end of Woodbine’s second-floor grandstand at 11 a.m. on Saturday. He will focus on betting strategy and money management. The seminar can be viewed online at woodbineentertainment.com/handicappingseries.