The Canadian Triple Crown will come to a close in Sunday’s C$500,000
Breeders’
S. over 1 1/2 miles on the Woodbine turf course, and both Queen’s Plate
victor EYE OF THE LEOPARD (A.P. Indy) and Prince of Wales S. upsetter GALLANT
(Aptitude) will each be attempting to win for the first time on the surface. The
longest leg of the series for Canadian-bred three-year-olds drew 11 other
challengers.
Eye of the Leopard, a grinding winner of the Queen’s Plate on Polytrack by a
neck as the favorite, failed to replicate that feat when falling a half-length short of
Gallant in the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie on dirt. That rival had only broken
his maiden in his previous start and was a justifiable 15-1 in his first dirt
attempt, but the Mark Casse charge dug in gamely to fend off the favored filly
Milwaukee Appeal (Milwaukee Brew) by a nose with Eye of the Leopard third.
Eye of the Leopard has yet to race on grass, but was installed the 5-2
morning line favorite for trainer Mark Frostad and jockey Eurico Da Silva.
Gallant was fourth, beaten 14 lengths, as a maiden in last fall’s Cup and Saucer
S. on the local lawn and is the 4-1 second choice.
MR. FORICOS TWO U (Porto Foricos), who finished in between Eye of the Leopard
and Milwaukee Appeal in the Queen’s Plate, flattened out after making a middle
move in the Prince of Wales and will also be trying turf for the first time.
RESERVOIR (Sky Classic), who breaks from post 13, won his first two starts in
May including an allowance in gate-to-wire fashion in his turf debut. He faded
to 11th after setting the pace in the Queen’s Plate, but has a chance of
establishing a comfortable lead in the Breeders’.
Others with notable turf form include GENIUS KINSHASA (Kinshasa), GUIPAGO (My
Way Only), PARABOLA (Trajectory) and the maiden HISAKI (Compadre), who held
third in the Toronto Cup in his most recent start. Longshots to move forward
with the added distance include KEINO WEST (Kissin Kris), FLIP FOR THE COIN (Compadre)
and PERFECT SHOWER (Perfect Soul [Ire]).
Sunday’s card also includes the C$150,000
Nandi S.
for Ontario-sired two-year-old fillies going six furlongs.