His Race to Win to Start Season in Eclipse

Sam-Son Farm homebred His Race to Win will make his 2015 debut in the $200,000 Eclipse Stakes (Can-II) June 7 at Woodbine.

A two-time grade III winner at Woodbine, graded stakes winner, Ontario-bred His Race to Win hasn't started since finishing second in the Durham Cup (Can-III) at Woodbine Oct. 4 to close out last season.

After dropping the first seven starts of his career, His Race to Win finally broke his maiden May 12, 2013 over Woodbine's synthetic surface and became a graded stakes winner when he took the Ontario Derby (Can-III) at Woodbine on Sept. 15, 2013.

Last year, the 5-year-old son of Stormy Atlantic   won two of six starts for trainer Malcolm Pierce, including a victory in the Seagram Cup Stakes (Can-III) Aug. 3 also at Woodbine, where he owns a record of 4-3-2 from 11 starts on the Polytrack surface. He's bankrolled $493,064 in his career from 18 starts for Sam-Son.

His Race to Win has been working steadily since April for his return to the races and drew post four in the six-horse field. He will be ridden by Eurico Da Silva in the 1 1/16-mile race, and is co-highweight in the field with Florida Won, each carrying 120 pounds.

Florida Won weakened to fifth in his return to the races in an optional claiming race May 22 on Woodbine's turf course. A return to the synthetic track, where last year he won the 2014 Ontario Derby.

Owned by Live Oak Plantation, Florida Won has won two of eight starts with $149,140 in career earnings.

Florida Won, who was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd., drew the outside post in the six-horse field and will be ridden by Patrick Husbands.

Best known for finishing second in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Mile behind Wise Dan, Za Approval rates a factor in the Eclipse. The 7-year-old gelding has only won once in the past two years from 11 starts, but is coming off a solid third-place finish in the Vigil Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine on May 17.

Za Approval, who is bred and owned by Live Oak Plantation, rallied to get up for third in the Vigil making his synthetic surface debut, and may appreciate the extra ground in Sunday's race. The gray gelding will break from post five and also has Patrick Husbands named to ride. Both Za Approval and Florida Won are trained by Mark Casse.

Avie's Quality, winner of the 2012 Display Stakes, drew the rail and is followed out by Are You Kidding Me, winner of the 2013 Kent Stakes (gr. IIIT), Midnight Aria, the winner of the 2013 Queen's Plate, His Race to Win, Za Approval and Florida Won.