Solid Field of Sprinters Lines Up for Jacques Cartier

Red River Rebel  kicks off his season and will face seven foes in the CA$150,000 six-furlong Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3) May 14 at Woodbine.

Bred in Ontario by Denny Andrews and Northern Dawn Stables, who also share ownership, Red River Rebel arrives at his latest engagement off a fifth-place finish, just 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner, in the Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) last November.

Trained by Krista Cole-Simpson, the son of Reload   boasts a record of 4-0-2 from 15 starts and $203,617 in purse earnings.

"I took over (as trainer) this winter. He's a nice horse, very tall and big," Cole-Simpson said. "At first, I was told he was a little difficult to ride, but I get on him in the morning and I have no problems. He likes to train, rest, have his lunch, and then sleep. It's a pretty good routine he's got going."

Red River Rebel has had a steady work tab heading into Sunday's tilt, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:00 1/5 over the Woodbine main track May 5.

"He's had some really solid works underneath him. We're very happy with the works and how he's come out of them. Morning or afternoon, he always shows up."

Red River Rebel launched his career on Oct. 23, 2020, finishing third in a race won by former Cole-Simpson trainee Candy Overload , who will contest the Jacques Cartier.

One race later, Red River Rebel turned the tables on Candy Overload when the former won that year's Frost King Stakes, and the latter was third.

"He's beaten Candy Overload and Candy Overload has beaten him, so it certainly makes for an interesting storyline," Cole-Simpson said. "They both have different running styles. 'Candy' likes to come from last, and 'Rebel' likes to be in the mix from the start."

Cole-Simpson has developed a strong bond with Red River Rebel, a connection with the chestnut that others in her barn have yet to duplicate.

"When I'm around, he's very kind to me. I can kiss him on the face, hug him, and he's lovely. But when the boys come around, he knows, and he'll snap at them and do other stuff," Cole-Simpson said. "They'll ask, 'How come you just kissed him and he's trying to bite us?' I don't know what it is, but I guess he's just very smart. I also got Keveh (jockey, Nicholls) back because he rode Candy Overload, so he's pretty excited for this opportunity."

Other starters include last year's Jacques Cartier winner and 2022 Sovereign Award finalist (champion male sprinter) Arzak  and graded stakes winner Ironstone , who was a Sovereign Award finalist in the 3-year-old male category.

The Jacques Cartier goes as race seven. First post is 1:10 p.m.