Riker, Campbell look to continue success in Marine Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The dynamic duo of Riker and jockey Jesse Campbell will reunite in the $150,000 Marine Stakes for 3-year-olds at Woodbine on Saturday.
Riker and Campbell combined for three front-running stakes scores here last year, most notably in the Grade 3 Grey, going the same 1 1/16-mile distance as the Marine. They were beaten just four lengths by Nyquist when sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland, which secured him the Sovereign Award for Canadian champion 2-year-old male.
“That was a hard race in the Breeders’ Cup,” Campbell said. “Some of the races he won here, he won so easy. I never really got to the bottom of him. I thought he ran tremendously.”
After a sale to Team Valor International and Gary Barber over the winter, Riker changed trainers, going from Nick Gonzalez to Mark Casse. Riker faded to sixth after pressing the pace in his season opener in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. He was a well-beaten eighth most recently in the Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland.
Campbell said Riker handled the Tapeta surface nicely last Saturday during his bullet five-furlong work in 59 seconds flat in company with Conquest Windycity.
“He worked good to me,” Campbell said. “That being said, I never worked him as a baby, so I don’t have a whole lot to compare it to. He sat about a length behind the company and took me to him at the top of the lane. I just sat on him. He seems in good order, in good health.”
The Grade 3 Marine will not serve as a prep for the restricted Queen’s Plate because all six entrants are Kentucky-breds.
Marine, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Riker, by Include
Last 3 Beyers: 60-81-82
◗ Campbell said he is hoping to be forwardly placed after breaking from post 4.
“I’d like to see him leave that gate running and give me a few options,” Campbell said. “Try to get him the best trip, a clean trip with no excuses, so you can revaluate him.”
Bear’sway, by Tizway
Last 3 Beyers: 84-84-84
◗ Following a winter layoff, he rode an inside bias to victory in the April 24 Wando Stakes, in which he turned back a bid from Dragon Bay in the stretch to prevail by a neck.
Dragon Bay, by Parading
Last 3 Beyers: 83-74-75
◗ He mounted a wide rally against the bias to finish second in the 1 1/16-mile Wando, which came on the heels of a third in a turf allowance at Gulfstream.
Greatest Game, by Giant’s Causeway
Last 3 Beyers: 80-87-72
◗ He was supplemented by trainer Casse off a troubled second against older allowance opponents.