Will it be King Edward or Bold Venture for cross-entered G T Five Hundred?
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – G T Five Hundred is cross-entered in the Grade 2 King Edward and Grade 3 Bold Venture on Saturday’s King’s Plate undercard at Woodbine. Trainer Dale Desruisseaux has a tough choice to make in deciding whether to run him at a mile on the inner turf in the $200,000 King Edward or at 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta in the $175,000 Bold Venture.
G T Five Hundred was purchased privately in the spring by Centennial Farms (Niagara). He won the 5 1/2-furlong Thorncliffe Stakes for his new connections May 3 on the Tapeta, after which he finished a sagging sixth May 30 in the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier.
G T Five Hundred dead-heated for third in the Grade 2 Highlander going five furlongs on the inner turf June 27. With blinkers removed most recently, he won the Grade 2 Connaught Cup over 7 1/2 furlongs around two turns on the inner turf with a career-high 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
“We bought him because of his synthetic record,” Desruisseaux recalled. “I don’t know if the blinkers off made that much of a difference, but it definitely helped him. He ran some big races on the grass at Kentucky Downs. He’s just a versatile horse. He’s won on the dirt as well. He’s coming into good form.”
Desruisseaux said early in the week he was leaning toward running G T Five Hundred in the Bold Venture rather than the King Edward, which is a prep for next month’s Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.
“The owners have high hopes of wanting to go to the Woodbine Mile, but it looks like it’s stacking up to be a pretty significant race,” Desruisseaux said.
Just five others were entered in the King Edward, including Piper’s Factor with John Velazquez riding and last year’s winner, Gas Me Up.
Piper’s Factor lowered the 7 1/2-furlong inner-turf record when leading all the way in a June 20 conditioned allowance. He then raced wide throughout in the Connaught Cup before tiring late to end up fourth.
“I thought he got a good trip last time, stalking a quick pace, which came back,” trainer Katerina Vassilieva said. “I loved to see him relax behind horses. He flattened out a bit at the end but still only got beat a couple of lengths, so overall I was pleased with his effort.”
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Gas Me Up captured last year’s King Edward coming from far off the pace before finishing third in the Woodbine Mile and seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. After a winter stint at Santa Anita, he rejoined Kevin Attard’s string here in the spring and has been working right along in preparation for his first start in five months.
“He had a little bit of freshening since California, and I’m looking forward to getting him back going,” Attard said. “He’s trained really well, and I think he’s ready to rock now. He’s pretty consistent. He tries all the time.”
Connaught Cup runner-up Irish Aces and listed stakes winner Seminole Chief are two live shippers in the lineup.
Bold Venture
Poulin in O T is cross-entered in the Bold Venture and Sunday’s Vice Regent Stakes, a five-furlong inner turf dash for Ontario-sired runners. He put away the other speed en route to a one-length win last time out in the six-furlong Pink Lloyd Stakes for Ontario-sired stock, much to the delight of trainer Steve Owens.
“I thought they would have to run to beat him,” Owens said. “He’s very game down the lane and he has great turn speed.”
Seven others were entered in the Bold Venture, including Notorious Gangster and the speedy Western Whirl, who could vie for lead in his first start since running second in the Grade 2 Highlander on June 27.
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Notorious Gangster displayed an impressive closing kick when landing his seven-furlong season opener in a conditioned allowance. A three-wide trip over an inside-favoring track led to his downfall most recently when a chalky fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Dominion Day Stakes.