Two Tejano Run sons on trial

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Anglian Prince and Shaws Creek, both sons of 1995 Kentucky Derby runner-up Tejano Run, are the obvious contenders in Saturday's Plate Trial Stakes at Woodbine, an important prep for the $1 million Queen's Plate.

Nine other Canadian-bred 3-year-olds will prep for the June 23 Plate in the 1 1/8-mile Trial, which is worth $170,400.

Anglian Prince, who won his maiden for a $25,000 tag at 2, ran a sensational race two weeks ago in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes. He stalked the pace along the rail in the 1 1/16-mile Marine and drew off in the stretch to prevail by 1 3/4 lengths, despite bobbling at the sixteenth pole. His time of 1:44 was good for a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

Trainer Mort Hardy said that in the stretch Anglian Prince appeared to jump the tire tracks made by the starting gate.

"I think there was a bit of a rut there," Hardy said. "He jumped it, and his end swung over and hit the rail."

Before that race, Anglian Prince was fourth in the seven-furlong Queenston Stakes, and a well-beaten second in the six-furlong Woodstock Stakes. Hardy said he wasn't surprised by Anglian Prince's Marine effort, because of the horse's five-furlong bullet work in 58.80 seconds over a sloppy track on April 29.

"I don't think he's a Plate horse - I think he's a Breeders' Cup horse," Hardy said. "When you have a horse work in 58 and change who looks like he can go 1 1/2 miles, he has to be some kind of horse. I never had it happen to me before he did it. I've had lots of '58ers,' but they were all sprinters."

Shaws Creek beat Anglian Prince when he won the Queenston in his most recent outing, on May 4.

Trainer John Ross, who won the 1999 Plate Trial with Catahoula Parish, expects another good performance Saturday from Shaws Creek, who is trying a route for the first time.

"He hasn't done a thing wrong this year, but he hasn't gone two turns yet," he said. "He trained all winter long, and everything has gone to plan, but he has some things to prove in this race. We've always felt he'll go long."

* Platel heads a supporting feature on the card, the $108,800 Alywow Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong turf dash for 3-year-old fillies.

* Unbeaten Numerous Times, the 2001 Canadian champion turf horse and Atto Mile winner, was entered in Saturday's fourth race, an allowance prep for the Nearctic Handicap.

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