Port Protection targets repeat in John Patrick

Port Protection became a stakes winner for the first time when she came from well back to win the John Patrick at Northlands Park last year. On Saturday, the 5-year-old will try to defend her title in the one-mile race for fillies and mares, which drew seven horses. It is a good field that includes last year’s local 3-year-old filly champion Anstrum, and Tara’s Way, who was voted the top older filly or mare in the province.

Trained by Ron Grieves, Port Protection proved her win in the John Patrick was no fluke when she won the $50,000 Duchess of York two starts later. In her only start this year she dueled through honest fractions before gamely holding off Smart Fix to win an open allowance race going six furlongs May 18.

Last year, she had two races prior to her blowout win in the John Patrick, and Grieves said he would have liked to have gotten another race into her before this year’s renewal.

He has been overseeing her training from afar, though, as he is recovering from severe injuries sustained in a car accident in March.

“I broke my back and pelvis,” he said. “I just started physio, so it will be a while before I’m a hundred percent. Port Protection is doing very well right now, though. I don’t think she’ll get as far back as she did last year, but there is some speed in the field and hopefully she’ll get a nice trip from not too far back.”

Port Protection will break from post 6 with Shannon Beauregard retaining the mount.

KEY CONTENDERS

Port Protection, by Wilburn
Last 3 Beyers: 65-51-56

◗ She was very determined in her first start this year, and her versatility gives Beauregard more than one option.

Saveitforarainyday, by Albertus Maximus
Last 3 Beyers: 65-63-34

◗ Trained by Tom Rycroft, she is a very sharp horse with back-to-back wins sprinting.

◗ She hasn’t won going around three turns, but she has never been better than she is right now and could get her first stakes win since she romped in the Sturgeon River in 2016.

Tara’s Way, by Tizway
Last 3 Beyers: 40-64-63

◗ The Rice Hedge-trained Kentucky-bred used her good speed to win five races last year, including two stakes, and should move forward after fading in Saveitforarainyday’s most recent win on June 1.

◗ She can stalk and could be dangerous if she can avoid getting into a duel with Parcam Cowgirl.

Anstrum, by Rosberg
Last 3 Beyers: 57-60-62

◗ Trained by Monica Russell, she ran evenly in her two sprints this year and should appreciate stretching out to a middle distance.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: The past five years Russell has a 27 percent strike rate and $3.16 return on investment with horses moving from a sprint to a route. The last couple of years the numbers are 36 percent and $5.39.