Simon off to strong start with Yorkton, Dragon Bay
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Stu Simon has had a strong start to the Woodbine season with wins from Yorkton in the Queenston Stakes on May 13 and Dragon Bay in the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes on May 20.
“Both horses ran really good races,” Simon said. “It’s always nice when they run to your expectations.”
Yorkton was originally nominated to the Queen’s Plate in February but did not remain eligible after the second payment deadline of May 3.
“We made the decision that he really hadn’t showed us that he wanted to go a mile and a quarter and two turns,” Simon said.
Simon said Yorkton likely will make his next start in the $100,000 Charlie Barley Stakes, for 3-year-olds over a one-turn mile on turf on the Queen’s Plate card July 2.
Dragon Bay held off two-time Canadian champion Are You Kidding Me to win the Eclipse over 1 1/16 mile on Tapeta. Simon said the decision to run in the Eclipse following three straight turf starts came down to a matter of timing.
“It was going to be another two or three weeks to go seven-eighths [on turf], and I didn’t want to run him that short,” he said. “His numbers weren’t as good on the Tapeta last year, but I think as the year went on, he just became a better horse.”
Dragon Bay had been disqualified in back-to-back starts last season before Simon decided to take the blinkers off him heading into the English Channel Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 23. Dragon Bay won that start with a 96 Beyer Speed Figure, the same number he earned in the Eclipse.
“We took the blinkers off, and he ran straight,” Simon said. “Everything improved.”
Simon said Dragon Bay likely will make his next start in the Grade 2, $175,000 King Edward Stakes over a mile on turf here July 2, with the long-term goal being the Grade 1, $800,000 Woodbine Mile in September.
