Entering Saturday’s $272,378
King
Edward H. (Can-G2) at Woodbine, Aurora Meadows and Oxbridge Farm’s COURT OF
THE REALM (Powerscourt [GB]) had been four-for-five on synthetic surfaces and
zero-for-two on grass. However, the improving four-year-old amply demonstrated
he might take to the turf after all with a 12-1 upset of the one-mile grass
feature.
Under Eurico Da Silva, Court of the Realm tracked in close attendance while
in midpack, gradually gained on the leaders at each call, and wore down a
stubborn Fifty Proof (Whiskey Wisdom) to seal a half-length victory in a time of
1:35 4/5 over the good course. He paid $26.10, $11.60 and $6.60. Fifty Proof,
who let through splits of :24, :47 and 1:10 3/5, dropped back to third with a
furlong remaining but re-rallied for the place honors by a neck over 2-1
favorite Society’s Chairman (Not Impossible [Ire]), who appeared not to get the
hot pace he needed when attempting to rally from last in the field of 11.
Conditioned by Peter Berringer, Court of the Realm has now won five straight
dating back to his maiden score over Woodbine’s Polytrack last September.
Unplaced in his debut on the synthetic surface, Court of the Realm finished
second and third in his next two maiden outings on turf before reverting to the
main track for his 6 1/4-length graduation triumph. Court of the Realm later
reeled through his allowance conditions, winning by margins of 3 1/4 lengths, 5
1/2 lengths and 3 3/4 lengths. The stakes debut victory in the King Edward
boosted his career record to 8-5-1-1, $317,895.
Bred in Kentucky by J. Fred Miller III, Court of the Realm hails from the
family of 1990 Woodward H. (G1) winner Dispersal (Sunny’s Halo).
The favorite did no better in the $157,742
My Dear S.
for two-year-old fillies. Sent off as the 5-2 choice, Hope for a Win (Old
Forester) attempted to blitz her way through the five-furlong Polytrack contest
and into the winner’s circle, but went far too fast for her own good. After an
insane first quarter of :20 3/5 and a half-mile in :44 1/5, Hope for a Win
melted in the final furlong, going from one length up to 10 1/4 lengths down at
the finish.
The recipient of Hope for a Win’s freewheeling was Brereton Jones’ homebred
debut runner TU ENDIE WEI (Johar) who rallied from ninth to win going away by 4
3/4 lengths under hand encouragement by James McAleney. The 5-1 second choice,
she paid $12.30 $4.90 and $6.10 after completing the distance in :56 4/5.
Closers occupied the next two slots, with 6-1 chance Runfor Ro (Afleet Alex)
besting 38-1 longshot Samsal (Consolidator) for second by 1 1/4 lengths.
“This filly is more than special,” McAleney said. “This (performance) was
unbelievable. When I came back and saw the tote board and how quick she’d run, I
thought there had to be a mistake.”
Bred by her owner in Kentucky, the Reade Baker-trained Ti Endie Wei is
half-sister to Biofuel (Stormin Fever), the 2010 Canadian Horse of the Year and
co-juvenile filly champion the previous year. The pair hail from the extended
family of 2001 champion three-year-old filly Xtra Heat (Dixieland Heat) as well
as the classic-placed Arkansas Derby (G2) winner Dansil (Silver Hawk).
“She came to hand a lot quicker than Biofuel,” Baker said.
Stone Farm et al’s UPPERLINE (Maria’s Mon), a disappointing fourth as the
favorite in the May 28 Arlington Matron S. (G3), rebounded to take the $104,620
Trillium
S. by 3 1/2 lengths while 6-5 favorite Maristar (Giant’s Causeway) weakened
to last in the field of five. Under Emma-Jayne Wilson, the four-year-old
Upperline rallied from the rear of the field to finish nine furlongs on
Polytrack in 1:50 3/5. She paid $6.50, $2.70 and $2.30 at odds of 2-1. Bubble
Gum (Awesome Again), the 4-1 fourth choice, beat 7-2 chance Milwaukee Appeal
(Milwaukee Brew) by three parts of a length for runner-up honors.
Trained by Mike Stidham, who is also one of the filly’s co-owners, Upperline,
earned her signature victory in the 2009 Arlington Oaks (G3). She’s also proven
adept on turf, taking both the Bayou H. and Allen LaCombe Memorial H. at Fair
Grounds this past winter. Upperline’s record now stands at 14-6-2-2, $339,733.
Bred in Kentucky by Stonerside Stable, Upperline is a half-sister to Snow
Fall (War Front), recent winner of the Pike Creek S. at Delaware Park. Her
second dam is the Oaks d’Italia (Ity-G1) winner Ivyanna (Reference Point).
The stakes action at Woodbine on Saturday kicked off with the $101,580
Charlie Barley S., an eight-furlong grass test for three-year-olds.
Victorious by 2 1/4 lengths under Luis Contreras was Eugene Melynk’s homebred
CLEMENT ROCK (Strong Hope), who caught early leaders Something Extra (Indian
Charlie) and Thundering Waters (Artie Schiller) slightly more than a furlong out
and drew off to win a time of 1:36 2/5. He returned $8.50, $4.80 and $4 as the
3-1 second choice.
Something Extra re-rallied to overtake Thundering Waters to garner the place
by a neck, and the two were outsiders in the eight-horse field. Their odds were
14-1 and 18-1, respectively. Even-money favorite Walker’s Landing (Theatrical
[Ire]) rallied too late from the back of the field and finished fourth.
The trailer in his Fair Grounds debut on dirt in March, Clement Rock upset a
June 10 turf maiden at Woodbine by a half-length. The Mark Casse trainee has now
bankrolled $95,174.
The Florida-bred Clement Rock is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Bridgetown
(Speightstown), runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2), and to
multiple stakes winner Carnacks Choice (Carson City). This is the family of 1991
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Strike the Gold (Alydar) and his multiple Grade
3-winning full brother Greydar.