Sunday June 8th, 2009 - Victoria Stakes, Two-Year-Olds, Five Furlongs

History Lesson: The Victoria Stakes is one of Canada's longest running stakes events. It's inaugural running was in 1903 at the Old Woodbine Racetrack. It was moved to the current Woodbine track in 1956. The race has been run at five furlongs for the majority of it's tenure and had seen some years where it was run at five and a half furlongs (1956-78). It had been a dirt race until 2006 when Woodbine switched its dirt surface for the synthetic polytrack and back in 1979 the Victoria was run for its only time over the turf. In 1981, famed thoroughbred sire Deputy Minister had won the event, setting the record time of :57.20. Trainer Gil Rowntree and jockeys Avelino Gomez and David Clark all have four wins in this race holding the records in their respected categories, while Stafford Farms holds the record number of wins by an owner with five, the last coming in 1976. Since the race's inception it has seen sixteen fillies win the event with the last coming in 1994, won by Honky Tonk Tune.

Victoria Stakes 2009: The 103rd running of the Victoria Stakes will be an interesting bunch of juveniles vying for the $150,000 purse. There is a good looking field of eight, comprised of seven colts and one filly (Midst). Three horses have shipped in for the five furlong event being Bricklayer, Liquid Fire and U Appeal to Me. As always this should prove to be an exciting race as it is the first juvenile stakes contest at Woodbine in 2009.

Here is a look at the field by post position:

1 Midst by Closing Argument out of Procure (Quiet American) Own: Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Trainer: Mark Casse, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

2 Dant by Offlee Wild out of Golden Diva (Gold Fever) Own: Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Trainer: Steven Asmussen, Jockey: Luis Contreras

3 Liquid Fire by Milwaukee Brew out of Wing Woman (Golden Missile) Own: Wesley A. Ward, Trainer: Wesley Ward, Jockey: John Velazquez

4 U Appeal to Me by Successful Appeal out of Miss Adorable (Mr. Prospector) Own: Oak Crest Farm LLC and John H. Adger, Trainer: Michael Stidham, Jockey: Emma-Jayne Wilson

5 Fearless Cowboy by El Corredor out of Fearless Wildcat (Forest Wildcat) Own: Gulf Coast Farms LLC, Trainer: Sandra Dominguez, Jockey: Slade Callaghan

6 Sir Heart Throb by Olmodavor out of Royal Distraction (Maria's Mon) Own: Takes To Make Stable and Partner, Trainer: Mark Casse, Jockey: Patrick Husbands

7 Bricklayer by El Corredor out of Miss Brickyard (A.P. Indy) Own: Dogwood Stable, Trainer: Frank A. Alexander, Jockey: Chantal Sutherland

8 Olredlgetcha by Limehouse out of Mystical Beauty (Cobra King) Own: R Own Stables, Trainer: Gregory De Gannes, Jockey: Emile Ramsammy

The Skinny: Well what can be said about these youngsters? There is a filly who looks tough enough, a maiden in Dant, a first time starter in Olredlgetcha and the rest of the field have recorded wins in their short race careers. It's wide open so we'll start from the one-hole to the outside post.

Midst is one of two entries by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and may be the one to be watchful of the two. This is the lone filly in the race. She has seen action in Keenland this year through April, where she would have a second place finish in her debut on the 4th and come back in twenty days to break her maiden on the 24th. Both races would be against the girls in maiden allowances at four and a half furlongs, so this may prove to be a very tough spot for her against the boys. Trainer Mark Casse is very sharp with juveniles and wouldn't have her here if he didn't think she had a shot. Her last work would be a quick 1:00 4/5 over the Woodbine poly which she has been working over since mid-May. She'll have to get in front from the break if she wants to stay in contention, not sure who will ride as Husbands is also listed on Sir Heart Throb.

Dant is one of two maidens in the Victoria and the second of the Heiligbrodt entries. Asmussen sends the son of Offlee Wild out for his third career start after picking up a third and second place effort in the first two. He has been favored in both of his career starts only to come up short to rivals Sir Heart Throb and Fearless Cowboy. He may get an advantage as maidens will have a weight allowance and he will carry 117lbs, while previous winners carry 122lbs. Don't like his chances from the post position and from his most recent work of 1:03 1/5. Would like to see this guy break his maiden in an easier spot.

Training at Keenland and racing at Churchill Downs has seen Wesley Ward's ship-in Liquid Fire go one for one, back on May 6th. The son of Milwaukee Brew is getting super-star jockey John Velazquez aboard again looking to make it two for two. You should see this guy take a lot of money at the windows as most handicappers will notice that the outfit clicks at 31% in second starts. The colt last breezed on June first going three furlongs in :38 flat. Looks like he'll go for the lead from the start and hold off the field. Should be a top choice.

U Appeal to Me is shipped in from Arlington Park for conditioner Stidham after picking up his first win in his first try on May 28th against maiden allowance company. He would be the favorite on that day and may be a probable favorite on this day. He gets one of Woodbine's best in rider Wilson and should be another to keep in the mix. He won coming out of the four-hole in his first start, so he does not appear to be bothered by foes around him. Last worked on June 10th in :36 2/5 over three furlongs at Arlington Park.

Fearless Cowboy comes out for trainer Sandra Dominguez for his third start of his career, as the El Corredor colt had picked up a win in his last event against maiden allowance company over four and a half furlongs on May 24th, beating rival Dant by one and a quarter lengths. This guy is the outfits lone winner of the '09 campaign and may be an outside chance at win number two. He last worked on June 6th with a bullet :59 2/5 over five furlongs.

The second Casse entrant is Sir Heart Throb, a winner in his first career start of over two lengths and even more over third place finisher and Victoria rival Dant, back on May 10th. Again, Husbands has the call on this guy and the filly Midst, but who's his first choice. He would breeze in 1:01 flat on June 5th for his most recent work. As mentioned earlier Casse is sharp with the two-year-olds, this guy should be a player here, with or without Husbands.

Bricklayer ships in for trainer Frank Alexander out of New York. The colt has been training at Belmont and would have his first test on April 23rd at Aqueduct, where he would pick up the victory against maiden allowance horses. Chantal Sutherland takes the reins this time and she has been very good this year, which should give this guy a boost on the betting line. Though Bricklayer has not raced in almost two months he has worked honestly with the last breezing in :49 flat at Belmont. Hot jockey could help this guy's cause along with first time lasix, though the outfit is winless in second starts.

Olredlgetcha is a first time starter being sent out by Greg De Gannes, whose outfit would win the Victoria last year with Southern Exchange. De Gannes clicks at 12% with firsters and has had this guy on the Woodbine grounds since early May getting prepped for this one. His last work would come over a half-mile in :48 3/5 and the horse will be starting the lasix program for his first life time start. Just watching this time.

My Picks: 3-1-6

Please feel free to leave your comments and picks for the 103rd running of the Victoria Stakes.