Riker stretches out in Swynford Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Riker, one of North America’s fastest 2-year-olds, will try to stretch his speed out to seven furlongs on Saturday at Woodbine in the $125,000 Swynford Stakes.
Riker is unbeaten in two starts for Tucci Stables and trainer Nick Gonzalez. He won his five-furlong opener July 5 by a half-length, which was also the margin of his determined victory in the Colin Stakes on July 25.
In the six-furlong Colin, Riker battled with Arlington shipper The Zip Zip Man throughout the stretch before digging in to complete the distance in 1:09.44. The 90 Beyer Speed Figure he earned is the highest for a male 2-year-old on the continent, and it ranks second among all juveniles this year.
Gonzalez said Riker has trained encouragingly leading up to the Swynford.
“We gave him a couple of nice five-eighths breezes,” Gonzalez said. “He went in a minute and change twice with our exercise boy, Darren Fortune, on him. He’s always galloped out good, so I don’t see any problem with him getting the seven-eighths.”
Gonzalez pointed out that Riker, a son of Include, possesses a blend of speed and stamina in his pedigree.
“He’s out of an Unreal Zeal mare, which is speed,” Gonzalez said. “I researched the pedigree, and I think out of the mare’s other 10 winners, three of them won going long. Include is by Broad Brush, and that should help him, too.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Riker (Beyers: 90-68)
◗ Gonzalez said Riker has all the necessary tools to be a top runner.
“He’s a good-looking colt,” Gonzalez said. “I can’t believe how much he’s grown since his last race. He’s getting taller and filling out. The best thing is he’s got a great mind. And he’s not real studish, either. That’s why we left him intact.”
Tizzarunner (Beyers: 76-80)
◗ After closing for third first time out in the Colin, he captured a seven-furlong maiden special weight race by a nose over Majestic Slew.
◗ Trainer Mark Casse has won the Swynford a record six times, including in each of the past three years with Uncaptured, Conquest Titan, and Conquest Boogaloo.
Majestic Slew (Beyers: 76-75)
◗ The son of Majestic Warrior was supplemented for $2,500 off back-to-back seconds in maiden special weight company.
“We’re taking a shot,” trainer Mike De Paulo said. “He got a big Ragozin number, and then he went backwards a little in his second start.”
Van Damme (Last 3 Beyers: 74-47-29)
◗ He rallied for second in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity on Polytrack at Arlington on Aug. 22.