Silent Sting announces himself with Queenston Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Silent Sting made his season debut a winning one in Sunday’s $125,000 Queenston Stakes at Woodbine, stamping himself as a legitimate Queen’s Plate contender in the process.

Sable Island set moderate fractions in the seven-furlong sprint, with the favored Blueblood in close proximity, while Silent Sting stalked in third along the rail. Blueblood assumed command in midstretch, but Silent Sing wore him down in late to prevail by a neck, in a final time of 1:23.22.

Sable Island faded to third, and a troubled Ellas My Love was fourth in the six-horse field of Canadian-breds. Wandofuhr was scratched.

Silent Sting ($8.10) was the fourth winner on the card for Luis Contreras, who got a leg up from trainer Sid Attard on the son of Silent Name.

“He’s a lovely horse to ride,” Contreras said. “I had a perfect trip. I was just waiting to make my move, and once I asked him to go, he just gave me everything. I was wondering how sharp he was going to be early, but he relaxed nice. Sid had him very fit and ready.”

Silent Sting, who wintered at Gulfstream after winning the Dec. 9 Kingarvie Stakes, collected $75,000 for owner Stronach Stable. He was the 14-1 seventh choice in the Winterbook odds for the $1 million Queen’s Plate on June 30.