Woodbine: Go Greeley takes next step in Clarendon

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Last year’s Clarendon Stakes was won by Uncaptured, who went on to be Canada’s champion 2-year-old and Horse of the Year for 2012.

And while trainer John Ross certainly isn’t looking that far ahead he does have a solid prospect for Sunday’s $125,000 Clarendon in Go Greeley, who will be an odds-on choice at Woodbine in the 5 1/2-furlong race for Ontario-bred 2-year-olds.

Go Greeley was no secret when he began his career here May 19, scoring by 3 3/4 lengths under jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden dash.

Ross was looking to run Go Greely in the June 22 Victoria, the first juvenile stakes of the meeting, but that plan was dashed when his shed row was placed under quarantine after five horses with other trainers in the barn tested positive for the equine herpesvirus.

“He was so sharp, doing so good,” said Ross. “I did have intentions to go there, but I wouldn’t have run him in both races.”

Ross admitted to some trepidation when Go Greeley went back to the track when the quarantine was lifted after nine days.

“I was a little concerned with the time we had missed,” said Ross. “But because he had trained all winter and had a race under him, it didn’t take much to top him up.”

Ross, who also owns Go Greeley, watched the colt drill five furlongs in 59.80 seconds here on Sunday while going in company with 2-year-old filly stablemate Lexie Lou.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a 2-year-old work like that at this stage,” he said.

Da Silva will return aboard Go Greeley, who will begin from post 1 in the field of seven.

Bold’n Golden finished third in the Victoria after beginning his career with an Ontario-sired maiden score over 4 1/2 furlongs with Todd Kabel in the irons.

“He’s doing very good,” said trainer John Cardella, who conditions Bold’n Golden for the Linmac Farm of Jim McNair. “He’s a very nice horse.

“He closed up the rail first time, and closed wide in the stakes.”

Cardella, at age 82, is the oldest active trainer of a Queen’s Plate winner, having won the 1983 renewal with Bompago.

Grom is the only other winner in the Clarendon field.

Trained by Robert Gerl, Grom was making his second start when he ran down the debuting Spin the King – who also is in the Clarendon lineup – in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden dash here June 16.

First-timers Maritime Pulpit, Mega Length, and Truly Bettor complete the field.