River Seven back to defend title in Labeeb
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – River Seven has yet to find the winner’s circle in six graded stakes during his 2014 campaign but will look to defend his title in Sunday’s $100,000 Labeeb Stakes at Woodbine over one mile on turf.
River Seven dominated over a yielding turf course in last year’s running of the Labeeb, winning by 10 lengths and earning a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure. Most recently, River Seven finished fourth in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, which was run over good turf.
“The best race of his life was in the Labeeb last year, when it was a soft-to-yielding turf,” said trainer Nicholas Gonzalez. “Some of the other horses struggled on it, and he loved it. I think a mile is his best distance.”
Immediately preceding the Labeeb on Sunday is the six-furlong, $150,000 Fanfreluche for Ontario-bred 2-year-old fillies.
LABEEB (RACE 9)
KEY CONTENDERS
River Seven (Last 3 Beyers: 97-88-90)
◗ A little give in the turf course will help River Seven, who doesn’t seem to mind softer ground. His last three Beyers on turf courses labeled “good,” “soft,” or “yielding” are 97, 94, and 105. Two of those starts resulted in victories in the Labeeb and the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs last season.
Hampstead Heath (Last 3 Beyers: 95-93-83)
◗ Hampstead Heath comes into the Labeeb on a two-race win streak and captured the Halton Stakes at this distance two starts back.
◗ DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past five years, trainer Pat Parente has a 13 percent strike rate with horses making their first start after a claim. Hampstead Heath was claimed for $62,500 in his previous start Oct. 5.
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Excaper (Last 3 Beyers: 93-94-99)
◗ Excaper was supplemented into this race and returns quickly after running in the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes over six furlongs last Sunday.
◗ Excaper has had success racing at a mile, with seven in-the-money finishes from eight starts, including two wins.
FANFRELUCHE (RACE 8)
KEY CONTENDERS
Pohdi Pohdi (Last 2 Beyers: 83-78)
◗ Pohdi Pohdi will look to remain undefeated after winning her two career races by a combined 14 1/4 lengths.
◗ While Pohdi Pohdi has found herself on the lead in each of her two starts, trainer Robert Tiller said Pohdi Pohdi can rate. “She’s not a speed-crazy horse,” he said. “There’s no question that if somebody should outrun her in a race that she could sit second or third and relax. She’s coming home strong.”
Galina Point (Last 3 Beyers: 68-53-28)
◗ Galina Point attracted a private purchase from leading trainer Mark Casse and owner Gary Barber after sweeping by the field to win her maiden by 6 3/4 lengths against open company Sept. 27 and will make her first start for her new connections in the Fanfreluche.
Reserved (Last 3 Beyers: 52-64-48)
◗ Reserved earned just a 48 Beyer when second in her career debut on Polytrack on Aug. 2 in a race that featured a very slow pace. She followed that up with a four-length victory on turf.
◗ She was most recently fifth in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes over yielding turf.