Riker looks to stay perfect in Grey Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Two-time stakes winner Riker will look to remain unbeaten while trying two turns for the first time in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Grey Stakes for 2-year-olds at Woodbine. The winner of the 1 1/16-mile Grey will earn 10 points toward qualifying for next year’s Kentucky Derby.
Riker has found the winner’s circle in all three of his starts, including the Colin and Swynford stakes. Trainer Nick Gonzalez said Riker has been pointing toward this spot since the Swynford.
“We knew eventually we were going to have to try going two turns with him,” he said. “He’s never shown us at any time that he couldn’t. He’s always galloped out well in his races. When we breezed the other day, he galloped out in 1:13 flat, so he’s never shown us that he has distance limitations.”
Riker has been on or near the lead in all three of his races under jockey Jesse Campbell, but Gonzalez said Riker doesn’t need the lead to be successful.
“That’s just where we’ve found ourselves,” he said. “Jesse tells me every race that this horse doesn’t have to be up front. That being said, when those doors open up and the race unfolds after a sixteenth of a mile, that dictates what you’re going to do. If he finds himself up front and someone wants to go, we can sit off.”
Key Contenders
Riker (Last 3 Beyers: 79-90-68)
◗ Gonzalez said Riker has been training well for this start.
“He’s all set and ready to go,” he said. “We had a plan, and so far, so good. Knock on wood, everything’s gone right. We gave him a nice little blowout last week, and he’s been doing good leading up to the race.”
Tizzarunner (Last 3 Beyers: 73-76-80)
◗ He’s placed behind Riker in both of his stakes starts and won his maiden over seven furlongs in between stakes engagements. He stalked Riker through slow fractions in the Swynford and would benefit with more speed to run at.
Kasseopia (No Beyers)
◗ He comes to North America from England, where he won his last start by nine lengths on Polytrack at Kempton. The second- and third-place runners in that race came back to run first and second at Nottingham on Wednesday.
◗ He went gate-to-wire in his maiden win and could be an early pace threat here.