Sophomores trying turf in two stakes as Ontario Sired Heritage Series begins
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Go Kart Mozart takes a two-race win streak into Sunday’s $100,000 Lake Huron, one of two five-furlong inner-turf stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds on the Woodbine card, along with the $100,000 Georgian Bay for fillies.
The two races kick off the Ontario Sired Heritage Series, which is comprised of four $100,000 stakes for each sex over different distances and surfaces. Post time for the Sunday card has been moved to 4 p.m. Eastern due to extreme heat in the Toronto area.
Go Kart Mozart shares the same connections as reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Patches O’Houlihan – owner/breeder Frank DiGiulio Jr, trainer Robert Tiller, and jockey Sofia Vives, who has been aboard for both of Go Kart Mozart’s front-running Tapeta tallies at the meet. He beat maidens April 26 and nonwinners-of-two Ontario-sired allowance stock on May 18.
A son of 10 percent turf sire Souper Speedy, Go Kart Mozart has some grass breeding on the dam’s side of his pedigree. After breaking from the outside post, he could be the controlling speed in the seven-horse field of colts and geldings.
“I would think he’ll handle the turf, but it’s a guess,” Tiller said. “The horse has been a real surprise to me, because he doesn’t really show you a whole lot in the morning. He’s run terrific.”
Georgian Bay
Trainer Kevin Attard saddles Rhaenyra and Zippy Gamble among a field of six in the Georgian Bay.
Rhaenyra has posted mixed results in six Tapeta starts, the best of which was a blowout maiden score in her five-furlong season opener. She was softened up in a speed duel most recently when fourth in a 5 1/2-furlong Ontario-sired allowance.
“She’s a nice filly, still learning,” Attard said. “The last race was obviously a little disappointing, but she came out of it fine.”
Rhaenyra is by the 11 percent turf sire Reload, the sire of Patches O’Houlihan, who took the Grade 2 Nearctic on the grass.
“I think this race fits right into her wheelhouse in terms of the distance,” Attard said. “Everything about her stride and build suggests she will handle the turf.”
Zippy Gamble, victorious in 2 of 8 Tapeta starts, also is experimenting on a new surface. She had won two in a row, separated by a winter break, before a non-threatening fifth in her latest against Ontario-sired nonwinners-of-three allowance opponents.
“She got bumped around at the start of her last race and forced out, which may have rattled her a bit,” Attard recalled.
By Gamble’s Exchange, Zippy Gamble is a half-sister to restricted turf stakes winner Zippy Gizmo. Her third dam is Grade 1 E.P. Taylor winner Fly for Avie. Most of her family was campaigned by her owner and breeder, Ivan Dalos.
Executive Success should be favored off the big 81 Beyer Speed Figure she got for winning a May 22 Ontario-sired allowance. Trained by Marty Drexler, she is another offspring of the late Souper Speedy trying the turf for the first time.
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