Thursday, July 31, 2008

Breeders’ Stakes Notes for Wednesday, July 30

The 118th running of the $500,000 Breeders' Stakes, the third gem in Canada's Triple Crown for three-year-olds foaled in Canada, is set for Sunday, August 3, at Woodbine.

The race will be contested at 1 ½ miles (one mile and four furlongs) on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Post time for the Breeders' is 5:08 p.m. The race will air live on The Score in a special presentation from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.


Probable field for the Breeders' Stakes

Horse/Trainer/Owner/Jockey
Cryptonite Kid/Dan Vella/Class Action Stable/Tyler Pizarro
Deputiformer/Mike DePaulo/David James/Jerry Baird
Dylan's Choice/Desmond Maynard/Winter Road Racing Corp./Chantal Sutherland
East End Tap/Reade Baker/Sheik Yobuti Racing Stable Inc./Indefinite
Go in Peace/Suzanne Drake/Silver Duck Racing Stable/Steven Bahen
Mamma's Knight/Sam DiPasquale/M. S. Kowalski/Jim McAleney
Marlang/Debbie England/G. Schickedanz/Richard Dos Ramos
Palmers/Mark Casse/Melnyk Racing Stables Inc./Patrick Husbands
Pronger/Mike DePaulo/Mario Forgione/Eurico Rosa da Silva
Sligovitz/Brian Lynch/Stronach Stables Inc./Todd Kabel
Solitaire/James Bond/William Clifton Jr./Indefinite

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Sligovitz shoots for natural hat trick

Stronach Stables' Sligovitz, a bay son of Sligo Bay, tries to keep his winning streak going, this time in Sunday's Breeders' Stakes, at Woodbine.

After a maiden-breaking score in his sixth career start on June 11, Sligovitz doubled-up with a head nod over Breeders' rival Palmers in a 1 ¼-mile allowance event on July 13.

Now, the colt will attempt to net his first turf triumph. Sligovitz debuted on the grass last September at the Toronto oval, rallying from 12th early, to finish a diminishing 1 ¾ lengths behind Seattle Hill in a one-mile race.

"He's certainly heading in the right direction," said trainer Brian Lynch, who saddled Royal Challenger to a win in the 2006 Breeders'. "We started out hoping he would make one leg of the Triple Crown, but he ran a couple of clunkers at Gulfstream so we gave him some time to regroup."

While Sligovitz goes after his third consecutive win, Stronach has his sights set on his fourth Breeders' victory.

Blitzer won the Breeders' in 1992, Basqueian took top honours in 1994 and Royal Challenger triumphed two years ago.

"I always felt he would be at his best on turf," noted Lynch. "His last two races were very impressive. He's a very rateable horse."

Can Palmers give Team Melnyk back-to-back Breeders' scores?

Palmers, a chestnut son of Grand Slam, can give owner Eugene Melnyk, trainer Mark Casse and jockey Patrick Husbands their second straight win in the Breeders' Stakes, this Sunday at Woodbine.

Last year, Marchfield marched to victory in the third gem of the Triple Crown series, a one-length score in the 117th running of the classic.

On Sunday, Palmers will attempt to win his first race since a 3 ½ length tally at Fair Grounds (New Orleans) on January 25.

And although the colt has gone six races without visiting the winner's circle, Palmers has picked up a cheque in five of those events, including three seconds and a fifth in the Queen's Plate.

His only other start on grass came on February 29 at Fair Grounds, a runner-up performance that saw Palmers finish just a neck back in the 1 1/16 mile event.

"Last fall, I thought we had a claiming horse," said Casse. "But he was a different horse when he got to New Orleans. I thought his grass race was his best one yet."

In his most recent effort, Palmers finished second, just a head back of Breeders' rival Sligovitz in a 1 ¼ mile allowance race on July 13.

"He does the same thing whether the race is a mile and a quarter, a mile and an eighth or a mile and a sixteenth," offered Casse. "He has one big run. He tried to come back and beat the other horse that last race. He comes and plays every time."

In 10 races, Palmers has one win, three seconds and three thirds.

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