Woodbine Oaks: Simon looks to flip the script with Bold Script
TORONTO, June 5, 2019 – After a rough beginning in her last start, Bold Script looks for a mighty effort in the 64th running of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, Saturday at Woodbine.
The filly classic, which attracted 10 Canadian-foaled three-year-old fillies carrying 121 pounds over one mile and one-eighth on the Tapeta, will go postward at 5:51 p.m. as the ninth race. The winner receives $300,000.
A daughter of Speightstown-Original Script, Bold Script is trained by Stuart Simon for owner-breeder Chiefswood Stable.
With two wins, including a splendid effort in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes last November, coupled with a second and three thirds from seven starts, Bold Script will now look to build upon her two 2019 starts. In March, the grey was fifth in the Grade 2 Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream Park and followed it up with a third in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine on May 18.
The latter proved to be an eventful experience before the race even got underway.
“She bumped her head in the gate and that definitely affected her,” said Simon. “The good thing is that she’s regrouped well and trained well after that. I expect her to run a big race on Saturday.”
A carbon copy of the Princess Elizabeth score would Simon just fine.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta event at the Toronto oval, Bold Script, five lengths in front at the stretch call, poured it on down the lane, going on to notch a 7 ½-length triumph in a time of 1:45.20.
While she hasn’t won since that curtain-closing effort of her two-year-old campaign, Simon believes his filly will be at the top of her game in the Oaks.
“She’s been doing great all around and I do think she will run a big, big race,” he said. “I think she’s just got good tactical speed, but she doesn’t need the lead, which means she can be placed wherever the pace dictates. That’s a big thrill. She’s not one-dimensional. She doesn’t need the lead and she doesn’t need a hot pace up front to come from way back. She can do what you want her to do. That’s probably her biggest asset.”
Heading into the race, who does Simon think will be more nervous?
“I don’t know,” he said with a laugh. “I can imagine she’ll be a little nervous and I can imagine I’ll be a lot nervous. She’s a little antsy in the anticipation of the race, but once she’s settled and on the track, she cools down and her class comes out. As a trainer, you prepared everything well, so when you’ve done that, there’s no real reason to be nervous. Things typically work out well when you’ve done all that preparation.”
Adding a win in the $500,000 Canadian classic would be a nice feather in the cap for a trainer who currently sits one win away from 800 for his career.
“There’s no doubt about that. You’d be very proud to say you won a race like this.”
The other contenders include: Artilena, who won last year’s Ontario Lassie Stakes; Desert Ride, a two-time winner from three starts; Falcon’s View, a top-four finisher in five of her seven starts; Hastalavistababy, who finished second in both the Ontario Lassie and Fury Stakes; two-time winner from four starts Intanga Rose; Princess Elizabeth Stakes runner-up Lady Azalea; South Ocean Stakes champ Preferred Guest; Souciologist, who has one win, a second and a third from four starts; and Speedy Soul, winner of the Muskoka and Fury Stakes.
Last year, Dixie Moon won the Woodbine Oaks in a time of 1:50.38.
The Woodbine Oaks is the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, which continues here with the 1 1/16 mile Bison City Stakes on June 30 and concludes with the Wonder Where Stakes over 1 1/4 miles on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on August 10.
Fans can also enjoy a jockey meet and greet (12:15-12:45 p.m., on the second floor of the grandstand), great food and drink specials, as well as the presentation of the Avelino Gomez Memorial Award (Frank Barroby is this year’s recipient) on Oaks Day.
Visit Woodbine.com for all the details.
$500,000 WOODBINE OAKS, PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER
PP – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Lady Azalea – Rafael Hernandez – Roger Attfield
2 – Falcon’s View – Michelle Rainford – Scott Fairlie
3 – Preferred Guest – Jerome Lermyte – Mark Casse
4 – Desert Ride – Steve Bahen – Neil Howard
5 – Speedy Soul – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
6 – Artilena – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Catherine Day Phillips
7 – Intanga Rose – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Sid Attard
8 – Hastalavistababy – Luis Contreras – Mark Casse
9 – Bold Script – Gary Boulanger – Stuart Simon
10 – Souciologist – Alan Garcia – Kevin Attard
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Looking to lay down the ‘Law’ in Plate Trial
TORONTO, June 5, 2019 - Trainer Mark Casse, who has two Queen’s Plate crowns on his outstanding racing résumé, sends out the battle-tested Federal Law in Saturday’s $125,000 Plate Trial Stakes, a traditional prep for Canada’s most famous race, the $1 million ‘Gallop for the Guineas,’ scheduled for June 29.
A three-time winner from 10 starts, Federal Law, who began his racing career in the United Kingdom, enters Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Plate Trial off a smart score in the Queenston Stakes on May 19 at Woodbine.
Under Gary Boulanger, the Qatar Racing Limited silk-bearer endured a rough-and-tumble trip that began with the bay gelding getting off a step slowly in the seven-furlong main track feature. After bumping with a rival at the top of the stretch and losing his path, a hole opened and Federal Law then rallied resolutely to notch a hard-fought neck win.
“What stood out the most was him getting banged around so badly and then once he got his feet back under him and got some room, he hit a couple gears pretty quickly,” said Boulanger of the son of Scat Daddy bred by the Jim Dandy Stable. “I thought I had a lot of horse, but then we got bounced around. We stalled a bit and then he got going again. He’s a very nice horse.”
For riding veteran Boulanger, zeroing in on 3,600 career victories, the tough trip showed him that Federal Law, pegged as the second choice (4-1) in the Queen’s Plate Winterbook, has plenty of grit.
“That was the most impressive thing,” said the 2001 Queen’s Plate-winning rider (Dancethruthedawn) and 2017 Avelino Gomez Memorial Award recipient. “He’s just matured more and more from January until now. He’s grown, matured mentally and developed into a really nice horse. He’s a cool dude.”
A sentiment echoed by Casse, who sends out Preakness champion War of Will and Sir Winston in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes.
“I’ve said it all along, that it’s not a bad thing for these horses to learn, especially when you’re running in prep races,” said Casse, who won the 2014 Plate with Lexie Lou and the 2018 running with Wonder Gadot. “He’s well-seasoned, that’s for sure. He’s an interesting horse. I really thought he grew up over the winter.
“When we took him to Turfway (March 9 for the Rushaway Stakes), I really expected him to win,” continued Casse. “He just had a really rough trip and finished ninth. So, we sent him back to Ocala to regroup with him. I thought his race in the Wando (third, on April 28) was quite good. Obviously, his last race was a really good effort. He’s a beautiful horse.”
Avie’s Flatter, the Queen’s Plate Winterbook favourite at 3-1, will bypass the Plate Trial and train up to the Plate instead.
Last year, Telekenisis, trained by Casse, won the Plate Trial in 1:50.40.
All nine Plate Trial starters carry 126 pounds, the same weight they’ll carry if they contest the mile and one-quarter Queen’s Plate. Big Red Mike (2010) was the most recent horse to notch the Plate Trial-Queen’s Plate double.
There’s an on-track exclusive offer of 30 per cent savings on select Queen’s Plate Festival (June 28-29) tickets. The offer is available Saturday from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. at the Guest Experience Central on the second floor of the grandstand.
Also on tap Saturday, the inaugural running of the $100,00 William D. Graham Memorial Stakes, a 6-1/2-furlong turf race in honour of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame member, Thoroughbred breeder, and builder, who passed away at the age of 81 in January. It goes as race six.
$125,000 PLATE TRIAL STAKES
PP – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Federal Law – Gary Boulanger – Mark Casse
2 – Rising Star – Justin Stein – Mike De Paulo
3 – Pay for Peace – Luis Contreras – Rachel Halden
4 – Hesathriller – Leo Salles – John Ross
5 – Dun Drum – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Ian Black
6 – Moon Swings – Jesse Campbell – Mike De Paulo
7 – The Newfie Express – Kazushi Kimura – Alexander Patykewich
8 – Jammin Still – Patrick Husbands – Kevin Attard
9 – Krachenwagen – Jeffery Alderson – Angus Buntain
$100,000 WILLIAM D. GRAHAM MEMORIAL STAKES
PP – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 - Lady Grace - Shaun Bridgmohan - Mark Casse
2 - Pearl Heist - Rafael Hernandez - Darwin Banach
3 - Double Medal - Justin Stein - Mike De Paulo
4 - Western Curl - Patrick Husbands - Mark Casse
5 - Tallulah Darling - Omar Moreno - Barb Minshall
6 - Furiously Fast - Eurico Rosa Da Silva - Mark Casse
7 - Silent Mistake - Jerome Lermyte - Norm McKnight
8 - Charmaine's Mia - Steven Bahen - Michael McDonald
9 - Monkeys Uncle - Daniel Centeno - Arnaud Delacour
10 - Miss Behave - Luis Contreras - Gail Cox
11 - Lucky Girasol - Davy Moran - Niall Collum
12 - Si Si Tequila - Gary Boulanger - Mark Casse
13 - Sister Peacock - Jesse Campbell - Stuart Simon
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Chris Lomon (@ChrisLomon) for Woodbine Communications
PHOTO:
Federal Law and jockey Gary Boulanger winning the $125,000 Queenston Stakes on May 19 at Woodbine Racetrack. (Michael Burns Photo)
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