History Lesson: The inaugural running of the Queenston Stakes goes back to 1954 where it was raced at Fort Erie Racetrack at a distance of five and a half furlongs. Now, the event is run at Woodbine Racetrack, in Toronto, at a distance of seven furlongs over the synthetic polytrack. The Queenston has become an early prep for Queen's Plate nominees and has proven to be an indicator of potential winners, as the stakes race has had seven winners go on to victory in the Canadian classic. Jumpin Joseph in 1969, Amber Herod in '74, Sound Reason in '77, Regal Intention in '88, Victor Cooley in '96, Woodcarver in '99 and last year's winner of the Queenston, Not Bourbon, would all become Queen's Plate champions. 1989's runner-up would go on to become the Canadian Triple Crown winner as well as Horse of the Year and Champion three-year-old colt, his name, With Approval.
The Queenston Stakes 2009: Race seven on the May 2nd card gives us a look at Queen's Plate hopefuls as there will be some classy individuals here. With five of the seven three-year-olds having previous stakes scores this is shaping up to be a beauty of a race. El Brujo returns to the stage after winning in a romp last time out to take on some old foes, such as Bucephalus and Active Duty. Here is a look at the field by post position:
1 Parabola by Trajectory out of Flying Tabriz(Turkoman) Own: Janet Jeanpierre, Trainer: Barbara Minshall, Jockey: Justin Stein
2 Me the Sea and G T by Dance to Destiny out of G T's Miss Gretch(Accelerator) Own: G T Heat Stable, Trainer: Steve Owens, Jockey: Emile Ramsammy
3 Keino West by Kissin Kris out of Vanetta Hill(Crown Attorney) Own: Track West Racing Inc., Trainer: Steve Attard, Jockey: Gerry Olguin
4 Active Duty by Deputy Commander out of Punchbowl(Two Punch) Own: Woodford Racing LLC, Trainer: Mark Casse, Jockey: Corey Fraser
5 Shut It Down by Porto Foricos out of Bar U Raphael(Varick) Own: K.K. Sangara, Trainer: Lorne Richards, Jockey: Jim McAleney
6 Bucephalus by Cape Canaveral out of May Time(Cure the Blues) Own: Knob Hill Stable, Trainer: Kevin Attard, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro
7 El Brujo by Candy Ride(ARG) out of Enchanted Spell(Devil's Bag) Own: Windways Farm Limited, Trainer: Malcolm Pierce, Jockey: Patrick Husbands
The Skinny: This should be a race to remember. With the Queen's Plate coming up next month the Queenston will have some nominees looking to head to the Canadian Classic.
El Brujo should be the one to keep an eye on here. Winning his last start in the Achievement Stakes by eight and three-quarter lengths, El Brujo will look to dominate this seven furlong event. The distance should be of no worry to the Pierce trainee, who has proven himself as a tough competitor going further than three-quarters of a mile, though he has never won a race longer than that. He comes from the outside post and we may see him come off the pace, making his bid around the turn and trying to pass his foes down the stretch. El Brujo has never missed the board in seven career starts and posted his best Beyer speed figure ever in the Achievement with an 88. After a bumpy start he got the monkey off his back winning his first stakes competition and may show the fans he can do the same going longer in the Queenston. My choice on this day.
Bucephalus is back to challenge his nemesis, El Brujo, once again. The two can't seem to stay away from one another. Kevin Attard should be happy to be in the six hole this Saturday as his young colt came out of the inside post in his last start and could never really make up ground on the winner, as he split horses down the stretch picking up a third place finish. Don't let Bucephalus' 63 Beyer in the Achievement fool you, as this horse has the potential to run his biggest race of his career here. He will be sharp and ready to go and should like the extra furlong and take full advantage of it. Bucephalus has never missed the money in four starts and should be there again in the Queenston.
Mark Casse sends out Active Duty, winner of the Coronation Futurity in '08. With Corey Fraser back aboard, the winter raced gelding will be fit and sharp. Hitting the board five of seven starts, with earnings over 150k, Active Duty should be a tough competitor on this day. He has beaten rival El Brujo in the aforementioned Coronation Futurity, and should handle the distance of seven furlongs with ease. Fraser has only one win on the season at Woodbine so don't be surprised if he breaks out of his mini-slump here. Casse and Woodford Racing LLC have always had a lot of success at the Toronto oval and this time should be no different. Active Duty posted some decent Beyers at Santa Anita this winter with a high of 77 and if he gets a good trip... watch out.
Shut It Down, the '08 Frost King Stakes winner, will come off the shelf for the first time in his three-year-old campaign. Sent out by, high lifetime in-the-money percentage trainer, Lorne Richards, this son of Porto Foricos will look to get back to form after a disappointing effort in the '08 Kingarvie Stakes. Shut It Down has two wins and two places in six career starts with earnings of just under $140,000. Has met rivals Parabola and Me the Sea and G T as a freshman, failing to pass them in either race. Don't be surprised if this horse hits the board, but, it does appear he may need the race under his belt to get his '09 season rolling. Five of six rivals have a race or two already in 2009, so we'll have to see how Shut It Down stacks up.
Parabola is sent out by veteran trainer Barb Minshall for the first time this season. He comes off back-to-back scores in November of '08, including the Kingarvie Stakes and will have his winning rider Justin Stein aboard. This steadily improving son of Trajectory has what it takes to win here, but being his first start of the year, he may need to use this race as a stepping stone into his next event. The distance of seven furlongs should suit him just fine, as the sophomore appears to be able to handle two turns with ease winning at one mile and seventy yards and at a mile and one-sixteenth in the Kingarvie. Parabola has earnings just over the $100,000 mark and has hit the board three out of six lifetime starts. Tough post position on the inside will make this race even tougher for the Minshall student.
Keino West is a Queen's Plate nominee who is sent out by conditioner Steve Attard and will be looking forwad to stretching out to seven furlongs here. The sophomore, by Kissin Kris, has one lifetime win in maiden special weight company and that came at a mile and one-sixteenth. His first start of the '09 season was in allowance company going five and one-half furlongs and Keino West did not fare well. He definitely needed the race in preparation for this event and should be tougher here with the extra room and carrying the least weight in the field at 115 lbs. Lightly raced with five starts and earnings just above 50k, the Steve Attard trainee has hit the board three times with his highest Beyer at a decent 72. He has only race against stakes company once before and that did not go over very well, as he tried the turf in the Cup and Saucer Stakes last year, finishing twelfth of twelve, back twenty and one-half lengths. In tough in here.
Me the Sea and G T is sent out in his second start off the shelf by trainer Steve Owens. Hitting the board in fifty percent of his eight lifetime starts, the Dance to Destiny gelding will look to improve off his first race this season, where he finished fifth in an allowance race. Finishing third in the '08 Bull Page Stakes was his best result in his two lifetime stakes starts. Me the Sea and G T has never had a Beyer over 70, which may indicate how difficult this competition will be for him here. He has earned just under $100,000 in his career and will go seven eighths of a mile for the first time in this event. May be in over his head this time around, look elsewhere when wagering.
My Picks: 7-6-4
Please feel free to leave your own comments and picks for the 54th running of the Queenston Stakes.
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