Seeking Albert targets Breeders' Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Seeking Albert will be pointed to the third and final jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes over 1 1/2 miles on turf at Woodbine on Aug. 20.

Seeking Albert, making just his second start for trainer Mike De Paulo, recorded his second career win in an allowance over 1 1/2 miles on turf here July 14.

De Paulo and owner Robert Marzilli, who also owns 2016 Canadian Horse of the Year Caren, purchased Seeking Albert privately from trainer Nathan Hatcher and owner Four Seasons Stables. The purchase followed the colt’s third-place finish in a one-mile turf allowance at Lone Star Park on May 6.

“We located him in Texas and inquired if he was for sale,” De Paulo said. “We were able to buy him.”

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De Paulo said Seeking Albert was purchased with the intention of running the Ontario-bred son of Einstein in the $1 million Queen’s Plate on July 2. When those plans didn’t come together, De Paulo said the Breeders’ Stakes became the new target.

“I think he’s a better horse on turf,” he said. “I think stamina is certainly a big part of his game. When we didn’t quite have him ready for the Plate, we thought we would get him ready for the Breeders’.”

Seeking Albert rallied from off the pace under jockey David Moran to take that 1 1/2-mile allowance race by 1 1/2 lengths over Royal Intrigue.

Seeking Albert can give De Paulo his second win in the Breeders’ Stakes, following Pender Harbour’s score in 2011.