As usual, Sam-Son is loaded with top prospects

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sam-Son Farm is ready to roll at Woodbine.

That could spell trouble for just about every other outfit on the grounds, as Sam-Son, the Sovereign Award winner as outstanding owner and breeder the past two years, is fresh off a very successful meet at Keeneland and returns with its usual complement of impeccably bred and talented racehorses.

Trainer Mark Frostad, who had his personal streak of two straight Sovereigns snapped when he finished second to Bob Tiller in the outstanding trainer voting last year, saddled seven winners from just 19 starters at Keeneland.

On Friday, Sam-Son and Frostad will unveil one of their two prime prospects for the June 23 Queen's Plate when Ford Every Stream makes his second career start here in the 1 1/16-mile prep for the May 18 Marine Stakes.

In his only start, Ford Every Stream dueled throughout a seven-furlong maiden special at Keeneland before prevailing by a nose, with the third finisher another 11 lengths back.

"He ran a huge race at Keeneland," said Frostad. "We're pretty high on him right now. He ran a 98 Beyer in the first start of his life. That's pretty serious."

Ford Every Stream also was nominated to Saturday's seven-furlong Queenston, but Frostad considers the longer prep a more appropriate spot.

"If we're going for the Plate, he's got to get going," said Frostad.

Mountain Beacon, who is seen as the stable's only other candidate for the 1 1/4-mile Plate, won his maiden at Keeneland in his second start, scoring by 6 1/4 lengths over 1 1/8 miles and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 75.

One for the turf

Portcullis, another Sam-Son Plate eligible, is coming off back-to-back turf wins at Keeneland and is slated to make his next appearance in the May 11 Hawthorne Derby. The Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, offers a purse of $150,000.

"We're looking toward the Breeders' with him," said Frostad. "I think he'll go all day, the further the better."

The $500,000 Breeders' Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile turf race for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds which will be run here Aug. 10, is the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Marine prep carded again

Take two of the allowance prep for the May 18 Marine Stakes is the headliner on Friday' at Woodbine.

The horses were in the paddock and tacked up on Sunday when the mile and 70-yard event for 3-year-olds was canceled because of poor track conditions caused by heavy rains.

Friday's field is slightly different, with Queen's Plate winter-book favorite Streakin Rob and Recite opting out. After working on Tuesday, trainer Jim Day had a change of plans for Streakin Rob, who will now run in Saturday's seven-furlong Queenston Stakes.

Ford Every Stream, trained by Mark Frostad for Sam-Son Farm, is the new shooter in the lineup. Also in the field is Ford Cree Power, Barbeau Ruckus, Lady Shari, Sundar, and Open Concert.

Barbeau Ruckus has been idle since Dec. 2, when he upset Streakin Rob in the Kingarvie Stakes. He took the lead on the backstretch of that 1 1/16-mile test, and held his ground in the lane, despite jumping the tire tracks left by the gate.

Lady Shari, the lone filly in the group, was the lukewarm favorite Sunday before the cancellation. She won the Grade 1 Mazarine BC Stakes and finished second in the Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct.

Lady Shari closed belatedly for third over a speed-favoring track in herlone outing this year, the six-furlong Star Shoot Stakes.

- additional reporting by Ron Gierkink

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