Treason Goes for Consecutive Graded Win in Dominion Day

Treason  will look to make it two straight graded stakes scores when he takes on eight rivals in the $150,000 Dominion Day Stakes (G3), a 1 1/8-mile main track test July 1 at Woodbine. 

Treason, a 5-year-old gelded son of Constitution  , arrives at his latest test off a sparkling effort June 4 in Woodbine's Eclipse Stakes (G2). Under leading rider Kazushi Kimura, the bay owned by LNJ Foxwoods and MSK Racing Ventures converted a head advantage after six furlongs into a 1 1/2-length triumph at the wire of the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race.

Trainer Josie Carroll, who saddled two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart  to win the 2021 Dominion Day, had plenty of praise for Treason after his first stakes victory.

"When people ask you about what makes you successful with horses, I say patient owners; owners that give you the opportunity to let their horses develop and do what they can do," she said. "Treason is just a good horse. We thought he was a good horse from the beginning, and he really proved himself today."

Kimura, who has 54 total wins on the year, was equally impressed with the Eclipse performance.

"He is a great horse to ride, very easy on himself, and very strong. He didn't want to let anyone get by him in the stretch," he said. Kimura retains the mount in the Dominion Stakes and will break from post 6.

Bred in Kentucky by Ramspring Farm, Treason is out of the Speightstown   stakes winner Cougarstown . He was acquired for $200,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by bloodstock agents Alex Solis II and Jason Litt out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment. 

Treason debuted in June 2021, breaking his maiden at 25-1 on the turf at Belmont Park in a one-mile race with trainer Bill Mott and racing for Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods. After an eighth and two fifths in his next three starts, he was offered through the 2021 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale as a racing prospect where MSK Racing bought him for $150,000 out of Gainesway's consignment. LNJ Foxwoods stayed in as a partner and the gelding was sent to Carroll at Woodbine. The change of scenery and a nearly year-long break yielded a 16 1/2-length win going 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta main track Sept. 4 last year. Treason concluded his 4-year-old season in 2022 with a fourth in the Autumn Stakes (G2) in November.

"Josie has done a great job with this horse," said Kimura. "I could feel he was ready to run when he won the Eclipse. He was very professional in the paddock and throughout the whole race."

For Kimura, who came to Ontario in 2018 from his home in Hokkaido, Japan, a win with Treason would be extra special.

"Hopefully, we can come up with another big effort on Saturday and get a win on Canada Day," he said.

Carroll is saddling two other starters in the Dominion Day—Tyson , a 4-year-old son of Tapit   and a Hill 'n' Dale Farms and Stretch Run Ventures homebred who was third in the Eclipse; and, MyRacehorse's Duke of Love , a 4-year-old Ontario-bred Cupid   colt who won last year's Prince of Wales Stakes.