Everyday leading up to the 2012 Queen’s Plate, Ontario Thoroughbred will track the progress of the nominees for Canada’s biggest race. Here’s our report for Friday, May 24, 2013.

WORKOUTS

- Scipio worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked third out of 38 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Bert’s Bar worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:02.80 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked 19th out of 38 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Expressly Yours worked four furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old filly breezed four furlongs in 51.00 seconds over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked 22nd out of 33 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Dynamic Sky worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:01.20 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked third out of 38 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Kid Dreams worked three furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park this morning. The three-year old colt worked his three furlongs handily in 37.60 seconds over the Hollywood Park turf course. Kid Dreams was the only horse to work three furlongs on the Hollywood Park turf course this morning.

RESULTS

- None of the Queen’s Plate nominees competed in races on Thursday.

FINAL ENTRIES

- White Rabbit has been entered into the fourth race at Parx Racing on Sunday. The race is a $10,000 claiming event for three-year olds and upward which have never won two races that will be run over one mile and seventy yards on dirt. White Rabbit has drawn post one in the seven-horse field. White Rabbit will be ridden by Kyle Frey and is trained by Michael Pino.

- Sweet Little Man has been entered into the second race at Woodbine on Sunday. The race is an allowance event for three-year olds which have never won two races that will be run over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. Sweet Little Man has drawn post five in the seven-horse field that includes a coupled entry. Sweet Little Man will be ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson and is trained by Daniel Vella.

- Up With the Birds, Drenched and Silent Admirer have all been entered into the fourth race at Woodbine on Sunday, the $150,000 Marine Stakes. The Marine Stakes is for three-year olds and will be run over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. Up With the Birds has drawn post one, Drenched has drawn post four and Silent Admirer has drawn post five in the six-horse field. Up With the Birds will be ridden by Eurico Rosa Da Silva and is trained by Malcolm Pierce. Drenched will be ridden by Todd Kabel and is trained by Josie Carroll. Silent Admirer will be ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson and is trained by Reade Baker.

- Clapham Heights has been entered into the sixth race at Woodbine on Sunday. The race is a maiden special weight event for three-year olds that will be run over six furlongs on turf. Clapham Heights has drawn post 12 in the 14-horse field that also has two also eligibles. Clapham Heights will be ridden by Luis Contreras and is trained by Mark Casse.

Photo Credit: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

There’s just over six weeks left until the 2013 Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on Sunday, July 7, and the key contenders for the race are beginning to take shape. With that in mind, here’s my first Queen’s Plate Top 10 list of the season. Agree? Disagree? Let me know who your top Queen’s Plate contenders are right now in the comments below.

#1 – Up With the Birds

This Sam-Son Farms homebred ran well on turf over the winter/spring in a pair of stakes events at Fair Grounds and Keeneland. Up With the Birds won the Black Gold Stakes on soft turf at the Fair Grounds, while being pushed extremely wide throughout the stretch, and then followed that up by just missing in the Grade III Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland in April. He’s now back at Woodbine and is training on Polytrack, most recently breezing five furlongs in 1:01.80 on May 18. He will make his final start before the Queen’s Plate on Sunday against Grade III Lexington Stakes winner, Winning Cause, in the $150,000 Marine Stakes.

#2 – Pyrite Mountain

Pyrite Mountain looked impressive when he won the Wando Stakes over 1 1/16-miles at Woodbine on May 5. He beat Uncaptured, who has since been taken off the Queen’s Plate trail, in that race, finishing strong past the wire, and Pyrite Mountain also looks like he’ll be able to get the 1 ¼-mile distance in the Queen’s Plate with no problems. Pyrite Mountain most recently breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60 on the dirt training track at Woodbine on May 18 and will likely make his final start before the Queen’s Plate in the Plate Trial.

#3 – River Seven

I don’t think River Seven ran his best race when he made his first start since October in the Queenston Stakes on May 11, but I think we’ll see him run a better race in his next start, which looks like it will be in the Plate Trial. He raised a lot of eyebrows when he won the Grade III Grey Stakes as a maiden last October, and was working well at both Gulfstream Park and Woodbine going into the Queenston. He hasn’t recorded a published work since his last start, but there’s two weeks to go before we’ll see him again to get ready.

#4 – His Race to Win

His Race to Win is the second Sam-Son Farms homebred in our top five and he’s rated this high after he dominated last time out while breaking his maiden at Woodbine on May 12. While watching that race, you could tell His Race to Win was going to be the winner in the turn and he didn’t disappoint in the stretch, beating the runner-up, Steel Dust Dancer, by five and one-half lengths. It took him a while to break his maiden, after running in-the-money in four of his first five career starts including a third place finish behind Up With the Birds in the Coronation Futurity, but His Race to Win now looks like a strong Queen’s Plate contender. We’ll likely see him next time in the Plate Trial Stakes, which should be his final start before the Queen’s Plate.

#5 – County Lineman

County Lineman will be back in action on Friday, looking to start off his Woodbine meet with two straight victories. He found a soft spot last time out and was able to take advantage by winning an Ontario-sired allowance race for non-winners of two lifetime, and will now run again in the same classification for non-winners of three. He’ll face another Queen’s Plate nominee, Honorable Guest, in that race, so the result will tell us a lot about how these two stack up. I’m a little confused with the timeline, as running Friday will likely mean that County Lineman won’t start in the Plate Trial on June 9, but I’m sure trainer Mark Frostad has a plan in place to get County Lineman to the Plate.

#6 – Silent Admirer

Silent Admirer ran second behind his entrymate, County Lineman, last time out, and will now start against Up With the Birds and Winning Cause in the Marine Stakes on Sunday. Silent Admirer has looked good in both of his two career starts and will likely look to stalk the pace in the early going in the Marine Stakes. He’s lightly raced, and perhaps still a little unproven, but a strong run on Sunday will no doubt move him up the rankings. Silent Admirer’s most recent work to get him ready for the Marine was a five furlong breeze in 1:00.60 over the dirt training track on May 18.

#7 – Kaigun

Kaigun emerged on the Queen’s Plate trail this past weekend when he broke his maiden coming from off of the pace with a strong run in a 1 1/16-mile open maiden special weight event. He’ll likely use the Plate Trial to prove himself where he will face winners for the first time, but I saw a lot of potential in his race on Saturday.

#8 – Spring in the Air

Spring in the Air will likely proceed into the Woodbine Oaks as the favourite after she captured the Fury Stakes in her 2013 Woodbine debut on May 4. She’s had some trouble since she bled in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last season, including a disappointing effort in the Grade I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland in April, but a return to Woodbine has seemed to get her back on her game. Fillies that run well in Woodbine Oaks usually proceed on to the Queen’s Plate and run well there too, so we’ll have to keep a close eye on her Woodbine Oaks effort.

#9 – Nipissing

Like Spring in the Air, Nipissing will be considered one of the horses to beat in the Woodbine Oaks on June 9. She will enter that race off of a good performance in the Grade III Selene Stakes at Woodbine this past weekend, where she was beaten four lengths by Coffee Clique. Coffee Clique won the race with a terrific time that was close to two seconds better than any other winning time at 1 1/16-miles this weekend, including Kaigun’s. I think that a strong run by Nipissing in the Woodbine Oaks will see her proceed on to the Queen’s Plate.

#10 – Drenched

Drenched is now on a two-race winning streak after he won his 2013 Woodbine debut over seven furlongs on May 5. He broke his maiden in a two-turn, one-mile race on turf at Gulfstream Park in front-running fashion on March 22 and then doubled up at Woodbine. If he goes on to the Plate he would likely be the pacesetter, but I do have doubts as to whether or not he’ll be able to get the distance. His next race on Sunday in the Marine Stakes will tell us a lot about his Queen’s Plate aspirations.

Honorable Mentions: Dynamic Sky, Honorable Guest, Kid Dreams, Midnight Aria, Power Phil, Star Contender

Photo Credit: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

Everyday leading up to the 2012 Queen’s Plate, Ontario Thoroughbred will track the progress of the nominees for Canada’s biggest race. Here’s our report for Thursday, May 23, 2013.

WORKOUTS

- Lukes Alley worked four furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed four furlongs in 49.60 seconds over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked 14th out of 33 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Midnight Aria worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:02.00 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked 15th out of 25 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Niigon’s Glory worked two furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed two furlongs in 25.60 seconds over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked eighth out of eight horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

RESULTS

- None of the Queen’s Plate nominees competed in races on Wednesday.

FINAL ENTRIES

- Rootham Triple E’s has been entered into the sixth race at Woodbine on Saturday, the $125,000 Lady Angela Stakes. The Lady Angela Stakes is for Ontario-sired three-year old fillies and will be run over seven furlongs on Polytrack. Rootham Triple E’s has drawn post four in the seven-horse field. Rootham Triple E’s will be ridden by Justin Stein and is trained by Sam Di Pasquale.

- Kitten Candy has been entered into the seventh race at Woodbine on Saturday. The race is an open allowance event for three-year olds and upward which have never won two races that will be run over seven furlongs on Polytrack. Kitten Candy has drawn post 10 in the 11-horse field. Kitten Candy will be ridden by Tyler Pizarro and is trained by Robert Tiller.

- Power Phil, Highland Bay and Niigon’s Glory have been entered into the 10th race at Woodbine on Saturday. The race is an Ontario-sired allowance event for three-year olds and upward which have never won two races that will be run over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. Power Phil has drawn post three, Highland Bay has drawn post five and Niigon’s Glory has drawn post 11 in the 13-horse field. Power Phil will be ridden by Eurico Rosa Da Silva and is trained by Robert Tiller. Highland Bay will be ridden by Luis Contreras and is trained by Denyse McClachrie. Niigon’s Glory will be ridden by Steven Bahen and is trained by Rachel Halden.

- White Rabbit has been entered into the 10th race at Monmouth Park on Saturday. The race is a $20,000 claiming event for three-year olds or four-year olds and upward which have never won two races that will be run over 1 1/8-miles on turf. White Rabbit is the fourth also eligible for the race and will need four horses in the field of nine to scratch out before he can draw in. Should he draw in, White Rabbit will be ridden by Jose Ferrer and is trained by Michael Pino.

Photo Credit: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

Will you be attending opening day at Fort Erie? If so, let us know how excited you are in the comments below.

Photo Credit: Fort Erie Race Track / Michael Burns Photography

It was a busy weekend on the Queen’s Plate trail, as a total of 15 nominees competed in races all across North America. In this weekly post, we’ll embed video replays of each race featuring at least one nominee. Let’s get right into the action.

FRIDAY – PIMLICO RACE 10

Ontario-bred three-year old filly, Lady Banks, took part in the Grade II Black Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico on Friday afternoon. But out of the gate it was pretty apparent that Lady Banks was either overmatched in this group or wasn’t interesting in running, as she quickly fell to the rear of the field and never came close to the rest, finishing a distant seventh.

Unfortunately, the video replay isn’t available to embed on the site, but you can click here to watch it now.

FRIDAY – WOODBINE RACE 6

A pair of Queen’s Plate nominees, Rackman and Faithful Rose, took part in Friday’s sixth race at Woodbine, an Ontario-sired maiden special weight event for three-year olds and upward over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. The pair sat well off of the pace in the early going and in the second quarter of the race, the front-runners opted to try and run away from the rest of the field. They were quickly slowed down again, however, allowing the rest of the field to catch up, and Faithful Rose looked to be in a good position in third along the rail in the turn. As they moved into the stretch, Faithful Rose flattened out, but Rackman closed nicely along the outside from the rear of the field to be fourth. Rackman could be worth a look next time out in this classification, but I don’t think either he or Faithful Rose are serious Plate prospects.

FRIDAY – WOODBINE RACE 9

Another pair of Queen’s Plate nominees, Warbred and Dragon Puff, took part in Woodbine’s finale on Friday, also an Ontario-sired maiden special weight event for three-year olds and upward over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. Warbred was in a good position all of the way around the track, and closed in on the lead heading into the stretch, but just couldn’t find what he needed and finished third. Dragon Puff, on the other hand, was checked at the start and lost ground because of it, and then was fanned really wide through the first turn. He finished sixth, beaten six and one-quarter lengths, but he covered 56 feet more than the winner.

SATURDAY – WOODBINE RACE 4

Five Queen’s Plate nominees lined up in this open maiden special weight event for three-year olds and upward over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. But the lone one to emerge in this field was Kaigun, who closed strongly along the outside through the turn and into the stretch to win the race. Perhaps even more impressive about this victory is the fact that Kaigun covered more ground than every other horse in the race. I also thought Holy Whirl Wind put in a strong showing on the lead, as he hung on and ran well to be fourth, even after being passed in the stretch. The other Queen’s Plate nominees in this race included Fiaker who finished fifth, Derby Noise who finished eighth and Mighty Quinn who finished ninth.

SATURDAY – WOODBINE RACE 6

Jade Dragon was the lone Queen’s Plate nominee running in the sixth race at Woodbine on Saturday, an Ontario-sired allowance event for three-year olds which had never won two races. The race was over six furlongs on Polytrack. Jade Dragon, dropping in class after running in-the-money in a couple of Ontario-sired stake events to close out his 2012 campaign, was last early, but made a strong move in the turn and quickly found himself on the lead. He began to pull away from the rest of the field, but couldn’t hold off his stablemate, Langstaff, in the stretch and was second. He did manage to beat the third place horse in this race by eight and one-half lengths, however.

SATURDAY – HOLLYWOOD PARK RACE 9

The lone Southern California-based Queen’s Plate nominee, Kid Dreams, was back in action on Saturday in a one-mile allowance event on turf against older horses. He sat off of the pace most of the way, and then came with a nice move along the outside in the turn. He looked to be closing in on the lead in the stretch, but was passed by He Be Fire N Ice, who was much the best in this race after he was checked hard entering the turn. Kid Dreams still ran well to be second and galloped out nicely. He seems to love running on turf, so the question becomes whether the connections send him up to Woodbine to run on Polytrack. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Unfortunately, no embeddable replays of this race are available, but you can watch this race by clicking here.

SUNDAY – WOODBINE RACE 4

Maha Aha was the lone Queen’s Plate nominee competing in this five-furlong Ontario-sired maiden special weight event for three-year olds and upward. He started slow in the early going of this race, spotting the leaders four and one-half lengths after the opening three furlongs. He looked like he was going to get close to the lead after making a wide outside move, but the eventual winner widened the gap all of the way to the line. Maha Aha finished fourth and I do think that he wants to go longer than five furlongs.

SUNDAY – WOODBINE RACE 5

Tap o’ the Mountain made her second career start in this Ontario-sired maiden special weight event and was heavily bet down to even money. I liked her chances in this spot after she ran the top Beyer Speed Figure of any horse in this field in her career debut, and she looked to be in a great position in the early going in second behind a runaway leader. But as she exited the turn, the rest of the field swallowed her up from off of the pace and she flattened out in the stretch to be eighth. Perhaps a cutback in a distance will be the answer for Tap o’ the Mountain to find the winner’s circle.

SUNDAY – WOODBINE RACE 8

The final Queen’s Plate nominee in action this weekend was Chiefswood Stable’s filly, Nipissing, who was competing in graded stakes company for the second start in a row in the Grade III Selene Stakes. Like in Sunday’s fifth race, we again saw a horse loose on the lead in the early going, while Nipissing raced in midpack along the inside through the backstretch. Nipissing began to make her move, switching to the outhside, in the turn, but Coffee Clique had gotten the jump on the rest of the field, and went on to win by four lengths. Nipissing ran well down the stretch to be second, and should be considered a horse to beat in the Woodbine Oaks on June 9. If she runs well there, we could see her in the Queen’s Plate as well.

What did you think of the racing action this weekend? Did any of the Queen’s Plate nominees impress you? Let me know what your thoughts on some of these performances are in the comments below.

Photo Credit: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

Everyday leading up to the 2012 Queen’s Plate, Ontario Thoroughbred will track the progress of the nominees for Canada’s biggest race. Here’s our report for Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

WORKOUTS

- Major Ironsides worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:02.40 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked 20th out of 35 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Global Express worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:02.60 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked 23rd out of 35 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Here’s George worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt worked his five furlongs handily in 1:02.20 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked 13th out of 35 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

RESULTS

- None of the Queen’s Plate nominees took part in races on Tuesday.

FINAL ENTRIES

- Inglorious Song has been entered into the second race at Woodbine on Friday. The race is a maiden special weight event for fillies and mares, three-years old and upward that will be run over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. Inglorious Song has drawn post three in the seven-horse field and is a part of a coupled entry. Inglorious Song will be ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson and is trained by Sean Smullen.

- County Lineman and Honorable Guest have been entered into the fifth race at Woodbine on Friday. The race is an Ontario-sired allowance for three-year olds and upward which have never won three races that will be run over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. County Lineman has drawn post 11, while Honorable Guest has drawn post 12 in the 13-horse field. County Lineman will be ridden by Luis Contreras and is trained by Mark Frostad. Honorable Guest will be ridden by Gary Boulanger and is trained by Mark Casse.

- Iratus Leo has been entered into the eighth race at Woodbine on Friday. The race is a $40,000 claiming event for three-year olds and upward which have never won two or three races that will be run over one mile on turf. Iratus Leo has drawn post nine in the 14-horse field that also has one also eligible. Iratus Leo will be ridden by Omar Moreno and is trained by John MacKenzie.

- Rumbling Rocket, Philego and Denim Bay have been entered into the ninth race at Woodbine on Friday. The race is an Ontario-sired maiden special weight event for three-year olds and upward that will be run over six and one-half furlongs on Polytrack. Rumbling Rocket has drawn post seven, Philego has drawn post nine and Denim Bay has drawn post 11 in the 14-horse field that also has two also eligibles. Rumbling Rocket will be ridden by Jermainde Bridgmohan and is trained by Mike Silvera. Philego will be ridden by Justin Stein and will be trained by Michael De Paulo. Denim Bay will be ridden by David Moran and is trained by Paul Buttigieg.

- So Outspoken has been entered into the sixth race at Belmont Park on Friday. The race is a $65,000 maiden claiming event for three-year olds that will be run over 1 1/16-miles on the inner turf course. So Outspoken has drawn post nine in the 10-horse race that also has three also eligibles. So Outspoken will be ridden by John Velazquez and is trained by Todd Pletcher.

Photo Credit: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

Everyday leading up to the 2012 Queen’s Plate, Ontario Thoroughbred will track the progress of the nominees for Canada’s biggest race. Here’s our report for Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

WORKOUTS

- Crysta’s Court worked four furlongs at Solera Farm on Monday. The three-year old filly breezed four furlongs in 51.20 seconds over Solera Farm’s dirt track which was listed as good. The workout ranked third out of three horses that worked that distance at Solera Farm on Monday.

RESULTS

- None of the Queen’s Plate nominees competed in races on Monday.

FINAL ENTRIES

- None of the Queen’s Plate nominees were entered into upcoming races today.

Photo Credit: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

“Patrick is in good spirits and resting comfortably,” Kemplen said. “Patrick wants to extend his gratitude to everyone for their concern and continued support.”

Husbands apparently suffered the injury after being caught briefly underneath A Tough Buck when the horse collapsed.

A Tough Buck, a four-year old gelding trained by Donald MacRae and owned by D-Mac Racing Stable Inc. and Winston Penny, was able to walk off of the track under his own power after the incident.

The injury will force Husbands out of the Woodbine Oaks on June 9 and the Queen’s Plate on July 7. Based on the timeline provided by Kemplen, Husbands could return to action in September.

The Daily Racing Form’s Bill Tallon reports that Joel Rosairo, who recently won the Kentucky Derby on Orb and the Dubai World Cup on Animal Kingdom, will fly in to ride Spring in the Air for the Woodbine Oaks.

Husbands currently sits third in Woodbine jockey standings with 18 wins, but leads all jockeys with just over $1-million in purse earnings.

Everyday leading up to the 2012 Queen’s Plate, Ontario Thoroughbred will track the progress of the nominees for Canada’s biggest race. Here’s our report for Monday, May 20, 2013.

WORKOUTS

- White Rabbit worked three furlongs at Parx Racing this morning. The three-year old colt breezed three furlongs in 36.96 seconds over Parx’s dirt track, which was muddy. White Rabbit was the only horse to work that distance on the dirt track this morning.

- Victory Exchange worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked fourth out of 42 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Pink Trillium worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old filly breezed five furlongs in 1:01.00 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked 14th out of 42 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Drenched worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:02.60 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked 37th out of 42 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- Sweet Little Man worked five furlongs at Woodbine this morning. The three-year old colt breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 over Woodbine’s main track. The workout ranked sixth out of 42 horses that worked that distance on the main track this morning.

- So Outspoken worked four furlongs at Saratoga this morning. The three-year old gelding breezed four furlongs in 50.72 seconds over Saratoga’s dirt training track. The workout ranked 13th out of 15 horses that worked that distance on the dirt training track this morning.

RESULTS

- Maha Aha ran in the fourth race at Woodbine on Sunday. The race was an Ontario-sired maiden special weight event for three-year olds and upward and was run over five furlongs on Polytrack. Maha Aha finished fourth beaten five and three-quarter lengths.

- Tap o’ the Mountain ran in the fifth race at Woodbine on Sunday. The race was Ontario-sired maiden special weight event for fillies and mares, three-years old and upward and was run over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. Tap o’ the Mountain finished eighth beaten six and one-quarter lengths.

- Nipissing ran in the eighth race at Woodbine on Sunday, the Grade III Selene Stakes. The Selene Stakes was for three-year old fillies and was run over 1 1/16-miles on Polytrack. Nipissing finished second beaten four lengths.

FINAL ENTRIES

- None of the Queen’s Plate nominees were entered into upcoming races today.

Photo Credit: WEG / Michael Burns Photography

The early speed came from the outside in the form of 80-1 longshot, Proud of My Roots, who was pressured by Niigon’s Honour to her inside through an opening quarter of 22.99 seconds.

Bear’s Gem, meanwhile, was in eighth position along the rail, five and one-half lengths off of the pace after the opening quarter. She was sitting behind Dance to the Moon, and when Niigon’s Honour backed up through the turn, Dance to the Moon advanced her position to take on Proud of My Roots at the top of the stretch.

Within a few strides, Dance to the Moon took the lead, but when a hole opened up for Bear’s Gem to split horses, she did so with a burst to take the lead and finished strongly in the final sixteenth, crossing the line in 1:11.08 for six furlongs. Dance to the Moon hung on for second, while Grace Phil was third.

“Going over the Form, the horse to beat was Slade (Callaghan)’s horse (Dance to the Moon),” said winning jockey Patrick Husbands. “I knew all I had to do was follow Slade and Slade would take me to the wire. About two and a half (furlongs) out, Slade was not going anywhere and I thought ‘Oh my God, I better go to plan two’, but I waited until Slade got a break and then I followed him and waited for my time to strike when I got to the outside.”

Bear’s Gem has now won five straight races after breaking her maiden in her sixth career start. She improved her record to five wins from 10 starts, with one second- and three third-place finishes. She banked $75,000 with the victory for owner Bear Stables, Ltd. and trainer Reade Baker and has now earned $243,258.

Baker said after the race that a key equipment change has proved to be the catalyst for Bear’s Gem’s winning streak.

“To start her campaign, she tried to get out all the time so Emma (Wilson) said, ‘Try extension blinker on her,’” he explained. “She’s never been beaten since.”

Bear’s Gem paid $6.20, $4.10 and $3.10, combining with Dance to the Moon ($7.00, $4.80) for a $38.80 exactor. Grace Phil finished third ($13.40 to show) to complete a $264.45 triactor.

Hurricane Lorraine finished fourth ($2,608.45 superfecta), followed by Posh Sox, It’s Gail, Let’s Forget It, Proud of My Roots, Moonlit Beauty, Forester’s Diva and Niigon’s Honour. State Street was scratched.​

A replay of the Ballade Stakes is below:

Photo Credit: WEG / Michael Burns Photography