History Lesson: The King Edward Stakes was originally run on the dirt over a distance of a mile and a quarter at Old Woodbine Racetrack back in 1903, having been introduced as the King Edward Gold Cup. The race had been reduced to a mile and one-sixteenth in 1920 until 1957 when Woodbine moved to its current location. Since then it has been a turf race and in 1995 was lengthened to one mile and one-eighth. There are some very impressive records held since the race's inception; Sam-Son Farm has the most wins by an owner with eight, the last coming in 2005 with Silver Ticket. Canadian jockey greats Robin Platts and the late Dave Penna hold the most wins by a rider with four, while Lou Cavalaris Jr. stands alone in trainers victories with seven. Inferno holds the record for most wins by a racer with three; all of which were won consecutively between 1906-1908. The current record time for the King Edward Stakes was set in 1995 by Bold Ruritana in 1:45 1/5.
King Edward Stakes 2009: This season's King Eddie has a small, but talented group of older horses, including the likes of '08 Breeders' Stakes winner Marlang and '08 Grade I Woodbine Mile champion Rahy's Attorney. The field of seven will vie for a purse of $300,000 in what has shaped up to be a much anticipated event.
Here is a look at the field by post position:
1 Sterwins by Runaway Groom out of Sweet Vale (Wild Again) Own: Melnyk Racing Stables Inc., Trainer: Malcolm Pierce, Jockey: Patrick Husbands
2 Society's Chairman by Not Impossible (Ire) out of Athena's Smile (Olympio) Own: Charles E. Fipke and George Waud, Trainer: Roger Attfield, Jockey: Jono Jones
3 Rahy's Attorney by Crown Attorney out of Rahy's Hope (Rahy) Own: Ellie Boje Farm, Peters, Read, Jean and Jim MacLellan, Trainer: Ian Black, Jockey: Slade Callaghan
4 Marlang by Langfuhr out of Marienburg (Conquistador Cielo) Own: Gustav Schickendanz, Trainer: Deborah England, Jockey: Richard Dos Ramos
5 French Beret by Broad Brush out of Misty Mission (Miswaki) Own: Sam-Son Farm, Trainer: Mark Frostad, Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva
6 Wollemi Pine by Aljabr out of Toogie Pine (Pine Bluff) Own: Kinghaven Farms, H. Clarke and G. Thompson, Trainer: Ian Black, Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson
7 Baletti by Gulch out of Cullberg Ballet (Ire)(Sadler's Wells) Own: Castletop Stable, Trainer: Angel Penna Jr., Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
The Skinny: For a small field it looks very competitive. It appears to be a rematch of the Connaught Cup on May 24th with four of the seven horses coming back for this one.
Sterwins was the winner of the Connaught Cup back in May, capturing the event by a head over rival Rahy's Attorney with a late rally, out wide, driving to the wire. The Malcolm Pierce trainee would post a very good 101 Beyer figure in the win and upped his bank roll to a very impressive $691,583 lifetime. This start will be the gray geldings' fourth start of 2009 and may be on his way to two wins in a row, as he carries 121 lbs. in comparison to rival Rahy's Attorney's heavier task. Sterwins last worked on June 20th five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 over the Woodbine poly. Leading rider Patrick Husbands aboard and a little more distance will be favorable to this late running closer. Should take a whole lot of money at the windows, major player here.
Rahy's Attorney will come out for his second start off his winter layoff and will be in much better shape for this race. He, like counter-part Sterwins, posted a 101 Beyer in the Connaught Cup, but just couldn't hold on for the win in the last few yards of the race. Just as in that last race, Rahy's Attorney will carry 126 lbs. and though he can handle the weight, it may prove to be his demise on this day. He should be the early speed in the race and may try to wire his foes again. The five-year-old gelding last worked on June 20th five furlongs over the polytrack in a time of 1:01 3/5. The outfit has a nice 27% of winners coming back after 31-60 days off. The million dollar earner should be the morning line favorite and is one to lay your money on in most wagering situations.
Roger Attfield sends out Society's Chairman, another Connaught Cup competitor, who will start for his fifth time in '09. This guy was all out on the May 24th turf contest but couldn't get to rivals Sterwins and Rahy's Attorney. He is a very consistent runner and should benefit from the extra distance in this race. 10-4-2-2 lifetime over the grass, Society's Chairman is a turfer through and through and will have to step it up against this group to finish in the top three again. Should stalk the front runners, always in contention. He last breezed five-eighths 1:01 4/5 over the poly on June 20th after three straight previous works over the grass at Woodbine. The outfit is having a nice season with a 22% in the wins column, but has only gone 17% in the 31-60 layoff range. Little interest for the win.
French Beret is the fourth runner in the King Edward to come out of the Connaught Cup on May 24th, where he would finish fifth, four and a half lengths back of rival Sterwins. The Frostad trainee is no stranger to tough competition, but has seemed to lack the ability to get the job done as of late. French Beret has four wins lifetime in 38 tries and may not have the late speed to match these rivals. He last worked on June 20th over five furlongs on the polytrack in 1:01 4/5. The outfit clicks at 16% on 31-60 day layoffs which is a little bit of a deterrent when at the betting windows. Not this time.
Trainer Ian Black also sends out Kinghaven Farms owned Wollemi Pine. This guy loves the turf, earning over 240k career-wise on the grass, which includes nine top three finishes in thirteen attempts. Black looks to stretch his horse out here going this distance for the first time. Wollemi Pine has been running no longer than a mile on the turf throughout his career, making this a very big test for the five-year-old gelding. This guy usually sits off the pace, around mid-pack making his bid down the home-stretch. Emma Wilson is the usual rider and comes back this time which is a positive. Wollemi Pine last worked on June 20th over the poly in 1:02 flat going five-eighths of a mile and last raced June 3rd against allowance company finishing a dismal fifth in the six furlong turf event. Looking elsewhere on this day.
Southern invader Baletti comes to Woodbine for the first time for conditioner Angel Penna Jr. This horse has been racing against company throughout his '08 and '09 campaigns and only broke his maiden in his second start last season at the age of four. Baletti has scored twice in a row however, with wins coming at Keenland and Belmont Park in his last race, where he posted a very nice 101 Beyer in the mile and one-sixteenth turf event. This guy has three lifetime wins over the grass in sixteen tries and last worked over the dirt at Belmont in 1:01 4/5 breezing. The horse may be outclassed in this one, though he has had steady success in his three starts in 2009 and could be an outside chance for a score. Keep in mind that most ship-ins at Woodbine do not always fare well.
The youngster in this race is Marlang, the four-year-old colt by Langfuhr and winner of the 2008 Breeders' Stakes. This Deb England trainee has a knack for the grass, with a career record of 5-3-0-1 and earnings of $441,984 on the sod. This will be Marlang's first test of 2009 and it couldn't be much tougher going against the likes of this field. Positives for this guy are the steady turf training this year, including a bullet work of :58 3/5 over five furlongs on June 14th, and the stable's 40% winning after 180 plus days off, as well as 31% win on the turf. Regular rider Richard Dos Ramos is aboard again for this one and knows how to get this horse to the wire first. Watch for the duo to go to the lead and try to wire the field as they did in the Breeders' Stakes last year. Don't be deterred by the first outing, he's ready, should be tough.
My Picks: 3-1-4
Please feel free to leave your comments and picks for the Grade II King Edward Stakes.
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