British Royalty, Riptide Rock Meet Again at Woodbine

The CA$150,000 Ontario Derby (G3) for 3-year-olds and the CA$125,000 Ontario Damsel for 3-year-old fillies co-headline the 10-race card Oct. 31 at Woodbine.

The Ontario Derby features a rematch of the 1-2 finishers from the Breeders' Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile turf test and the final jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown series—British Royalty  and Riptide Rock . This time they race 1 1/8 miles on Tapeta.

Riptide Rock, a Stronach Stables' homebred son of Point of Entry  , is trained by Canadian Hall of Fame inductee Sid Attard. The gelding has assembled a record of 2-3-1 from nine starts.

His most recent win came in a six-furlong Tapeta race on July 16 at the Toronto oval. After a narrow miss in the Queen's Plate—Riptide Rock was second, a head back of Safe Conduct —the gelding was third on turf in the Toronto Cup, before earning silver in the Breeders' Stakes.

"He's doing very, very good," said Attard. "He's coming into the race in good order. I'm very happy with him."

Riptide Rock launched his career Oct. 17, 2020, sweeping to the front in mid-stretch to take a six-furlong turf dash by 2 1/2 lengths as the 2-1 choice, in what was his lone 2-year-old appearance.

The chestnut then headed south for his next four starts, three at Oaklawn Park, one at Monmouth Park, before arriving back at Woodbine ahead of his July victory over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

"I like everything (about the horse)," said Attard. "He's a very easy horse to train, always does what you ask of him, and always tries every time. It's a nice horse to be around. He's always there whenever he races. You know he will always try and he will always give his best."

It's exactly what Attard is expecting from Riptide Rock on Sunday.

"I think this distance will be perfect for him."

D. J. Stable's Dolder Grand , trained by Mark Casse, is favored in the Ontario Derby at 2-1 morning-line odds. The colt ran fourth against older horses in graded company in his last start.

Seven sophomore fillies, including Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser champ Munnyfor Ro , are set to contest the Ontario Damsel, a 1 1/16-mile main track event. Owned by Raroma Stable, the daughter of Munnings   is 3-2-2 from 11 starts.

The chestnut, to be ridden by Justin Stein, heads into the Ontario Damsel off a victory in the Wonder Where Stakes, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, Oct. 2.

Other hopefuls include Gold for Kitten  (4-0-1, from five starts), Alywow Stakes winner Lady War Machine , and multiple graded stakes-placed Oyster Box .

Entries: Ontario Damsel S.

Woodbine, Sunday, October 31, 2021, Race 3

• STK
• 1 1/16m
• All Weather Track
• $125,000
• 3 yo Fillies
• 1:54 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Munnyfor Ro (ON)	Justin Stein	122	Kevin Attard	2/1
2	2Salty as Can Be (KY)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	118	Mark E. Casse	10/1
3	3Gold for Kitten (KY)	Kazushi Kimura	118	Brendan P. Walsh	8/1
4	4Lady War Machine (KY)	Patrick Husbands	119	Josie Carroll	9/2
5	5Seasons (KY)	Shaun Bridgmohan	118	James J. Toner	3/1
6	6Oyster Box (KY)	Emma-Jayne Wilson	118	H. Graham Motion	5/2
7	7Sweet Souper Sweet (FL)	Eswan Flores	118	Michael J. Trombetta	20/1

Entries: Ontario Derby (G3)

Woodbine, Sunday, October 31, 2021, Race 8

• Grade III
• 1 1/8m
• All Weather Track
• $150,000
• 3 yo
• 4:30 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Artie's Storm (ON)	David Moran	120	Paul M. Buttigieg	6/1
2	2Dolder Grand (KY)	Patrick Husbands	120	Mark E. Casse	2/1
3	3British Royalty (ON)	Luis Contreras	122	Barbara J. Minshall	8/1
4	4Frosted Over (KY)	Kazushi Kimura	120	Mark E. Casse	8/1
5	5Riptide Rock (ON)	Emma-Jayne Wilson	120	Sid C. Attard	5/2
6	6Master of the Ring (KY)	Justin Stein	120	Michael Stidham	20/1
7	7Swot Analysis (LA)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	120	Mark E. Casse	4/1
8	8Hit the Point (KY)	Shaun Bridgmohan	120	Vito Armata	20/1