Woodbine: Biamonte targets another sweep in Muskoka, Simcoe stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Trainer Ralph Biamonte swept both $200,000 yearling sales stakes for 2-year-olds last year with Menlo Castle and Rose and Shine, who are both competing against older horses on the same card Monday. Biamonte also will be represented in both 6 1/2-furlong 2-year-old races again this year, when he sends out Cryptic Message in the Muskoka and Open Ice Hit in the Simcoe.

Cryptic Message is unbeaten in three starts, which included a surprising 33-1 debut victory in June. She subsequently led throughout two restricted stakes, the 5 1/2-furlong Shady Well and the six-furlong Nandi.

Biamonte said the farther the distance, the better for Cryptic Message, who is a daughter of Grade 2 stakes winner Cryptograph.

“I don’t think she’ll have any trouble with the six and a half,” Biamonte said. “She should be able to run all day. She’s coming up to a good race.”

Open Ice Hit, by Perfect Soul, showed little after a troubled break in his debut July 28. Two weeks later, he graduated over $62,500 maidens.

“The first time, he was eliminated at the start,” Biamonte said. “He didn’t break well and got into a little trouble. That wasn’t really him. He ran a good race last time. I think he’s better on the grass. He has a much better stride on it, and the Perfect Souls all seem to move up on the grass. I’ve liked him right from the start. He’s a nice-looking horse, very well-mannered.”

Trainer Mark Casse entered English Holiday in the Muskoka and Honorable Guest, Dynamic Sky, and Star Contender in the Simcoe.

The unraced English Holiday is a daughter of English Channel, the sire of Queen’s Plate winner Strait of Dover.

“She’s a filly that we gave a decent amount of money for,” Casse said. “She’s trained well. We tried to get a race into her on the turf a couple of weeks ago, but she didn’t draw in. Her best surface will probably be the grass, but we’re going to give her a chance.”

Stakes-placed Honorable Guest is exiting an eight-length maiden triumph.

“I think Honorable Guest is going to be tough,” Casse said. “He had a really nice breeze the other day. I thought his last race was really impressive. He won just in a gallop.”

Dynamic Sky checked in third behind unbeaten Uncaptured and the promising River Seven when he debuted in the Vandal Stakes.

“He ran a good race, given the competition,” Casse said. “I think he’ll come back and improve off his first race.”

First-time starter Star Contender has worked quickly under jockey Patrick Husbands.

“Star Contender is a horse that we liked a lot early on,” Casse said. “He got hurt and got over that. He’s come back and trained really well. Patrick’s been on him a few times and really likes him.”