[bc_video_id:255326:]ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Reade Baker hopes he is holding a pair of aces when he bids for his first Queen’s Plate win here at Woodbine on Sunday.
There are some similarities between River Rush and Macho Whiskey as both were unraced at 2, spent time with Baker at Payson Park last winter, and will be making their third career starts in the 1 1/4-mile Queen’s Plate.
But there also are dramatic differences.
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Nick Eaves, president and chief executive officer of the Woodbine Entertainment Group, dropped a bombshell at the Queen’s Plate post-position draw breakfast here Thursday morning.
Eaves, speaking in the walking ring before the largest media gathering of the season, said that Woodbine Racetrack could be forced to cease operations if Ontario’s Liberal Government proceeds with its plan to shut down the racetrack slots program here next March 31.
Nearly two years have passed since Coax Liberty won her maiden in her second career start at Delaware Park. It has been eight months since Coax Libety has raced anywhere.
If she fires first time back for a trainer who excels with horses who have been idle for a long time and rekindles her fondness for Delaware’s main track, the 4-year-old Coax Liberty could be the surprise package in a five-horse field of female sprinters signed on for Saturday’s $150,000 Sweet and Sassy Stakes at six furlongs.
A slight hesitation at the break compromised Royal Currier’s chances in the True North Handicap on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
He can make amends on Saturday in the $150,000 Donald LeVine Memorial at Parx Racing.
Under normal circumstances, the two weeks between races would be a quick turnaround for the former claimer turned stakes winner. But then, Royal Currier, bet down to 4-1 in the True North against a much stronger field than this, never got into the hunt.
Sensible Lady soared to a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure when she upset the $100,000 The Very One Stakes at Pimlico a month ago. Predictably, after improving 23 points in The Very One off her previous win in a turf sprint, Sensible Lady “bounced” when she returned three weeks later against fellow 3-year-old fillies in the Crank It Up at Monmouth Park.
The question for handicappers is what can Sensible Lady be reasonably expected to do coming back just two weeks later against older fillies and mares in Saturday night’s $50,000 Buckland Stakes at Colonial Downs?
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Strait of Dover, coming off an impressive victory in the 1 1/16-mile Marine Stakes on May 13, has been made the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Sunday’s 153rd running of the $1 million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine.
A field of 14 was entered for the Queen’s Plate at the annual ceremonial breakfast and Strait of Dover will start from post 4 under regular rider Justin Stein.
Trainer Danny Vella drew the fifth-selection in the two-tiered process.
Belmont Park has canceled its Thursday card due to a second straight day of exceedingly hot weather in the New York area.
According to Weather.com, temperatures could reach 100 degrees at Belmont Park today after topping out in the high 90s on Wednesday.
Aqueduct Racetrack and the Belmont Café will be open for simulcasting, and NYRA Rewards telebet and internet wagering will be available.
Temperatures are expected to moderate in the New York area on Friday.
Eternal Rule stalked the quick early pace and rallied in the stretch to win the $100,000 Karl Boyes Memorial at Presque Isle Downs on Wednesday evening.
Jockey Jesse Campbell was content to have Eternal Rule in behind speedball Dazzled Saint to the top of the stretch. Campbell asked the Sid Attard trainee for his best in upper stretch, and he responded to draw clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths.
Ravalo made up some late ground in the stretch to finish second, a neck in front of Dazzled Saint in third.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Love Theway Youare, the upset winner of the Grade 1 Vanity Handicap last Saturday, is being pointed for the $750,000 Delaware Handicap at Delaware Park on July 21.
Raxon Cho, the son of owner-trainer Myung Kwon Cho, said his father does not plan to start the filly at Del Mar this summer.
The Grade 2 Delaware Handicap is run over 1 1/4 miles and has been mentioned as a possible target for Royal Delta, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic last year.
“We’re thinking of the Delaware Handicap because of the distance,”
