Sunday June 7th, 2009 - Victoria Park Stakes, Three-Year-Olds, One Mile & One-Eighth

History Lesson: The inaugural running of the Victoria Park Stakes would take place in 1988 at Woodbine Racetrack. Used as a final prep for the Queen's Plate, though it is eligible to open company, and run at a distance of a mile and one-eighth. Most wins for a trainer in this race is held by Hall of Famer Roger Attfield with four, while Dave Penna and Todd Kabel are tied with most wins for a jockey at three apiece. The fasted current time in the Victoria Park is 1:49.80 set by Jail Breaker back in 1997. Only one winner of this race has gone on to win the Queen's Plate, that being Regal Intention in the race year of inception.

Victoria Park Stakes, 2009: The 23rd edition of this race brings fans five runners vying for the $150,000 purse. With a small field to watch, it will be hard to miss two-time stakes winner in '09 Awesome Rhythm and Californian ship-in Life Goes On. Can Awesome Rhythm keep it in motion with his third straight victory?

Here is a look at the field by post position:

1 Awesome Rhythm by Toccet out of Galoshes (Storm Boot) Own: Domenic Truimbari, Trainer: John Ross, Jockey: James McAleney

2 Counter Move by Vindication out of Swingin On Ice (El Prado (Ire)) Own: Don Amos, Trainer: Daniel J. Vella, Jockey: Robert Landry

3 Life Goes On by Vindication out of Limelighter (Seeking the Gold) Own: Fog City Stable and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings Inc., Trainer: Josie Carroll, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

4 Mensch by Compadre out of Edirne (Regal Classic) Own: Fieldstone Farms Inc., Trainer: Analisa Delmas, Jockey: Slade Callaghan

5 Kennisis River by Alphabet Soup out of Tone Change (Southern Halo) Own: California Stables, Trainer: Daniel J. Vella, Jockey: Tyler Pizarro

The Skinny: Well everyone picks up a cheque in this edition of the Victoria Park. It appears to be Awesome Rhythm's race to lose, going into this race winning two in a row. Not much of a gamblers race.

Awesome Rhythm is going for his third straight win in a stakes event. He shouldn't have any problems on this day, as he drove by his competitors mid-stretch in his last two races with ease. The extra room may give us a look at how good he really is. He's got Jimmy "Mac" up again and had a good work on June 1st going four furlongs in :47.2/5. This guy's your clear-cut favorite on this day, look for another to pair him in your exactor.

Danny Vella is looking forward to two cheques in this one, starting with Counter Move who has one race at Woodbine lifetime in an optional-claiming event, where he would finish sixth five lengths back of the winner. The son of Vindication will certainly look to get back to the winner's circle after his first race of the '09 campaign resulted in a victory. He is two for four lifetime with earnings just under 50k and this will be his first two-turn race. Well he's gonna get over the 50k mark on this day, but not a top choice here.

The other Vella trainee is Kennisis River, a claim back in '08 for $50,000, who is coming into this for his second start off the shelf. He won first time out going seven-eighths of a mile on May 10th against allowance company. As a two-year-old this horse did not fare well at two-turns over the Woodbine poly, but, he is older and matured a bit, so don't count him out. 6-3-0-1 and just over 80k lifetime.

Life Goes On ships-in from California where he would break his maiden in his fourth start of the season on March 19th. He has since come back to finish third in a optional-claiming event at Hollywood Park. He has three published works over the Woodbine poly in May, with the latest going five furlongs in 1:01 and four-fifths. He is 7-1-3-1 with earnings just over 60k and he has posted the best Beyer figures out of the field. He should like the distance and be contending for the wire with Awesome Rhythm.

Mensch is sent out by trainer Analisa Delmas, who has to consider the field of five to be very fortunate on her side. Her horse picks up a cheque and doesn't have to run even respectably to do it. He's a maiden and has shown no signs this year, in four starts, that he can compete with this field. Do not like his chances whatsoever, good luck goes out to connections.

My Picks: 1-3-5

Please feel free to leave your comments and picks for this 23rd running of the Victoria Park Stakes.