Woodbine: Go Greeley stretches out in Grey

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Go Greeley, Woodbine’s leading 2-year-old, will try to extend his speed out to 1 1/16 miles on Sunday in the $150,000 Grey Stakes. The Grade 3 Grey has been won by the likes of Mine That Bird and Macho Uno, and a victory by Go Greeley would help him to nail down this year’s Sovereign Award for Canadian champion 2-year-old male.

Go Greeley has won four of five starts, including three stakes. He broke slowly from the rail during a nose loss in the July 7 Clarendon Stakes.

Owner-trainer John Ross was satisfied with Go Greeley’s solo seven-furlong work in 1:28.40 on Sept. 22, and said he is confident that the large colt is up to the task at hand.

“I worked him from the seven-eighths pole, because I wanted to work him around two turns,” Ross said. “He’s not a good work horse by himself, but he got a lot out of it. He’s kind of nonchalant by himself. His pedigree suggests that he’ll go seven-eighths to a mile. He’s very rateable. Every race, he comes from slightly out of it.”

Ross said Go Greeley has excelled in his training leading up to the Grey.

“He’s doing great, so I’ll try him the one time (going long), and see how it goes,” Ross said. “He’s been a fantastic horse for me. He handles everything so well.”

Gary Boulanger inherits the mount on 125-pound highweight Go Greeley from Eurico Rosa Da Silva, who’s riding at Keeneland this weekend for trainer Mark Casse.

“I’m disappointed changing riders, because the horse has done everything perfect for (Da Silva), but I can understand him wanting to ride for Mark Casse,” Ross said.

Maryland-based trainer Graham Motion captured the 2007 Grey with Globetrotter. He entered Give No Quarter, who graduated second time out by 22 1/2 lengths in a one-mile maiden special race on the Tapeta at Presque Isle Sept. 17. He finished second in debut, which came going 5 1/2 furlongs at Presque Isle.

“He’s a colt that I’ve always liked,” Motion said. “I thought he was a little unlucky first time out at Presque Isle. He came with a big run, but clearly he needed two turns. He won very easily. I suppose it’s a little suspect what was behind him that night, but, obviously, he did it very easily. Now, he has to step up and handle winners.”

Matador, a talented maiden by Malibu Moon, finished fourth first time out in the restricted Vandal Stakes, and then wound up third in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes on the grass.

Trainer Casse said Matador exited his debut with an excuse.

“We scoped him after, and he was full of mucus,” Casse said. “We don’t know where that came from, because we had scoped him six days prior. I thought he ran well against some nice horses.”

Rounding out the field are Ami’s Holiday and Big Bazinga. Both of them won their debuts in September.