Where's Neal, Swinging Mandy win maidens in Bull Page, Victorian Queen
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Favored Where’s Neal graduated in his turf debut on Friday at Woodbine in the $100,000 Bull Page Stakes, for Ontario-sired male 2-year-olds.
Where’s Neal went straight to the front under Justin Stein and set slow splits in the one-mile inner turf race, with Bossy Holiday in close proximity.
Bossy Holiday took a run at Where’s Neal early in the stretch, but Where’s Neal dug in to win by three-quarters of a length over Chairman Bob. Spring Mountain closed strongly from a trailing fifth to give trainer Danny Vella the first- and third-place finishers in the race. Bossy Holiday faded to fourth, ahead of stablemate Romantic Gamble.
The final time over the firm ground was 1:40.05.
“He’s a really nice horse with lots of talent,” Stein said. “He showed that today, but I think there’s a lot more there. He can improve. He’s a young horse. He’s learning. He’s very willing to do what we ask [of him]. It’s a good combination for a bright future.”
A son of Society’s Chairman, Where’s Neal ($4.80) earned $60,000 for Sea Glass Stables. He finished second in his only other outing in the Aug. 29 Simcoe Stakes, for graduates of Canadian yearling sales.
Swinging Mandy takes Victorian Queen
Swinging Mandy ($41.90) graduated as the longest shot in the six-horse field in Friday’s $100,000 Victorian Queen Stakes, a one-mile inner turf event for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies.
Swinging Mandy closed wide in the stretch and collared the leaders in the final strides to prevail by three-quarters of a length over Thatsitthatsall, who edged out favored Lois Len for second. Keep It Neat, Strega and Silent Resent completed the order of finish.
The final time was 1:40.13.
Swinging Mandy, who finished fifth in each of her two previous starts on the Tapeta, earned $60,000 for the partnership of trainer Dale Desruisseux, Rustywood Stable, and Solo Racing Ltd. The daughter of Giant Gizmo is Desruisseux’s first stakes winner.