Woodbine notes: Cryptic Message wins under new rider

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Cryptic Message came through loud and clear here in Sunday’s $125,000 Nandi, leading throughout the six-furlong race for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies to score by a length.

Owned by Eugene George and trained by Ralph Biamonte, Cryptic Message won for the third time in as many outings. A daughter of Cryptograph, Cryptic Message was coming off a front-running win in the 5 1/2-furlong Clarendon for Ontario-foaled fillies.

Emma-Jayne Wilson had ridden Cryptic Message in her first two outings but also had partnered last-out winner Silent Star in her two appearances and stayed in that corner for the Nandi.

Eurico Rosa da Silva picked up the mount on Cryptic Message for the Nandi and recorded his ninth stakes win of the meeting.

“My filly was sharp going in there,” said Biamonte. “She was the speed, and it worked out good.”

Biamonte purchased Cryptic Message for $5,000 at the Canadian Thoroughbred Society’s open yearling sale with an eye upon her stamina-oriented pedigree.

“She’s maturing,” said Biamonte. “She acts real good. I hope the stamina in her pedigree, top and bottom, comes out and she’ll keep running farther. I don’t see why she shouldn’t.”

Biamonte is eyeing the 6 1/2-furlong Muskoka Stakes, a yearling sales stakes for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 3, for Cryptic Message’s next start.

The Muskoka and the Simcoe, for 2-year-old colts and geldings, both are worth $200,000 and Biamonte captured last year’s runnings with the filly Rose and Shine and the colt (now gelding) Menlo Castle.

Alpha Bettor turns profit

Alpha Bettor had not initially been aiming for last Saturday’s Grade 3, $152,400 Seagram Cup, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and upward. But then Danny Vella, who trains Alpha Bettor and is a member of Bulldog Racing, owners of the Kentucky-bred 4-year-old colt, called an audible and anteed up a supplementary fee of $3,000.

That turned out to be money very well spent as Alpha Bettor picked up $90,000 for his half-length score in the Seagram Cup under regular rider Tyler Pizarro.

“He has a fair amount of talent, but he’s also a fairly gritty horse,” said Vella after watching Alpha Bettor register his first stakes win in an effort that yielded a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 98. “He’s tough. He’s an improving horse. His breeding and everything about him says he should get better with age.”

Alpha Bettor had been entered under the optional claiming clauses in his two races prior to the Seagram, winning over 1 1/16 miles of Polytrack and then finishing third at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

“He doesn’t like the turf,” said Vella. “He ran once on turf last year and ran a mediocre race. We thought we’d try him one more time when the opportunity presented itself.”

The next suitable stakes here for Alpha Bettor is Grade 3, 1 1/8 Durham Cup on Oct. 14.

“I want to run him at least once before that,” said Vella.