Phil’s Dream seeks repeat in New Providence Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Phil’s Dream, the 2013 Canadian male sprint champion, will look to capture the $125,000 New Providence Stakes for the second year in a row when he takes on eight other Ontario-sired rivals in the six-furlong sprint on Sunday at Woodbine.
Phil’s Dream’s 2015 campaign began exactly the same as his 2014 campaign, as he finished second in the prep for this event as the heavy favorite April 18. Phil’s Dream sat outside the speed before being passed in midstretch by Eighty Nine Red in the five-furlong sprint on Polytrack.
Trainer Paul Buttigieg said Phil’s Dream should benefit from the added furlong he’ll get to work with in the New Providence.
“He doesn’t want to run that short,” Buttigieg said of the April 18 prep. “He wants to go farther. He looks real good. I’m really happy with him.”
Before his first start of the season, Phil’s Dream had not raced since finishing third in the Shepperton Stakes last August. Buttigieg said Phil’s Dream picked up an injury coming out of that race that took a couple of months to recover from.
“He came up with a little problem, but we took care of it over the winter,” he said.
KEY CONTENDERS
Phil’s Dream (Last 3 Beyers: 73-75-97)
◗ Phil’s Dream placed in each of his five starts last season, four of which came in stakes races, including victories in the New Providence and Ontario Jockey Club Stakes.
◗ He is a six-furlong specialist, having won five of his eight starts at the distance on Polytrack, and he also captured the Grade 1 Nearctic Stakes in 2013 over six furlongs on turf. His wins in the New Providence and Ontario Jockey Club Stakes last season were both over six furlongs.
Eighty Nine Red (Last 3 Beyers: 76-74-81)
◗ Eighty Nine Red won his seasonal debut in the prep for this race April 18 with an off-the-pace trip and should be tough in the Ontario-sired sprint division this season.
◗ Trainer Mike De Paulo said Eighty Nine Red underwent throat surgery over the winter and looks to be an improved horse as a 4-year-old.
Paso Doble (Last 3 Beyers: 82-87-87)
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Trainer Mark Fournier has clicked at 32 percent over the past five years with horses making a start off a layoff of more than 180 days. This includes recent allowance winner Tahnee, who won off a 22-month layoff May 2.
◗ Jockey Eurico Da Silva will be reunited with Paso Doble for the New Providence. Paso Doble won the Shepperton and Overskate stakes with Da Silva in the saddle last season.
San Nicola Thunder (Last 3 Beyers: 71-71-73)
◗ San Nicola Thunder might be better suited to the turf but does fit with this group after finishing a close third in the New Providence prep April 18. He also was second to Paso Doble in two Ontario-sired sprint stakes on Polytrack last year.
◗ He comes into this race off a sharp five-furlong breeze in 59.80 seconds on the main track April 29 and will have Patrick Husbands aboard.