Horse Racing News is the source of thoroughbred racing information with horse racing odds, betting tips, racing picks, race results, and handicapping. Latest news and articles on top horse racing contenders, jockeys, trainers, three-year-olds, race tracks, and major stakes races such as the Triple Crown races: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes as well as the Breeders' Cup horse races.Horse Racing Results: Eye of the Leopard Wins Queen’s Plate at Woodbine June 21
Posted on Sunday, June 21st, 2009
Sam-Son Farm’s 2-1 favorite Eye of the Leopard, ridden by jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva, won Sunday’s 150th edition of the $1-million Queen’s Plate at Woodbine June 21.
Eye of the Leopard managed to collar pacesetter Mr. Foricos Two U at the wire to win by a neck, in 2:03.84 over the Polytrack in the Queen’s Plate at 1 1/4 miles for Canadian-foaled 3-year-olds.
Filly Milwaukee Appeal, winner of the recent Woodbine Oaks, closed well between the top 2 to finish third, just a head behind Mr. Foricos Two U, in her bid to become the 34th filly to win the Queen’s Plate and the fifth to win both the Woodbine Oaks and the Queen’s Plate.
Tasty Temptation, the other filly in the race, finished a credible fourth, 2 3/4 lengths further back, after looming up to challenge at the head of the lane.
It was the fifth Queen’s Plate win for Sam-Son, fourth for race horse trainer Mark Frostad but first for jockey Rosa da Silva with his first Queen’s Plate mount.
A field of 13 Queen’s Plate hopefuls went postward in Canada’s most famous horse race, as lightly-raced Reservoir and Mr. Foricos Two U dueled on the front end through fractions of :24.05, :48.11 and 1:12.93.
But lurking only a few lengths behind on the outside in fourth was the strapping Sam-Son colour bearer, in a perfect stalking position.
As the leaders swept into the far turn, Mr. Foricos Two U, with jockey Mike Smith, took over and suddenly opened a little daylight on his pursuers, as Eye of the Leopard seemed to drift out a bit after ranging up to challenge the leader. The fillies were also mounting their bids in early stretch.
However, the closing yards, ‘The Leopard’ was ‘spot on’, clawing away at the leader’s margin and finally wresting command approaching the wire, while on the outside.
“I want to thank all the people that supported me and I want to thank this horse,” said jockey Rosa da Silva, a 33-year-old Brazilian native who has been campaigning with great success at Woodbine since 2004. “I have the greatest team in the world behind this horse. Mark (trainer Frostad) was so nice, he never pressured me. He (Eye of the Leopard) was travelling very comfortably, he just kept going at that pace, he got the job done, that is the most important thing. I am the happiest man in the world.”
Eye of the Leopard pocketed $600,000 for the Queen’s Plate win, his third in 4 starts. Eye of the Leopard will now likely head to the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on July 12, over 1 3/16 miles on a dirt track. The third leg is the Breeders’ Stakes, at one mile and one-half over Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course, on August 2.
“No, I didn’t expect to make the lead,” said Smith, who was trying for his second Plate win aboard Mr. Foricos Two U after guiding Awesome Again to victory in 1997. “But warming up, I kind of thought that was going to happen. He was very much on his toes. When he got his head in front, he really relaxed. That was a big key. Before that, he was taking a pretty big pull. Finally, I had to let him out a little bit. It was a gallant effort in defeat. I thought if Eye of the Leopard had been on my hip instead of Milwaukee Appeal, maybe I would have held him off. He didn’t see him out there.”
Eye of the Leopard became just the second favorite in the last 15 years to win the Plate. Wando won the 2003 edition as the chalk, as well. Eye of the Leopard paid $6.70, $4.10 and $2.90, combining with Mr. Foricos Two U ($7.20, $4.60) for a $56.10 (7-5) exactor.
A 7-5-4 (Milwaukee Appeal, $3.70 to show) triactor fashioned a $183 payoff while a $1 Superfecta [7-5-4-11 (Tasty Temptation)] was worth $344.20.
Horse racing news edited from www.woodbineentertainment.com.
Tags: Eye of the Leopard, Milwaukee Appeal, Mr. Foricos Two U, Tasty Temptation
"Horse Racing Results: Eye of the Leopard Wins Queen’s Plate at Woodbine June 21" was posted on Sunday, June 21st, 2009 at 10:48 pm and is filed under Canada Horse Racing, Horse Racing Industry, Horses, Race Tracks News, Results & Payouts, Stakes Races, USA Horse Racing, Woodbine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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