Aheadbyacentury Takes Center Stage in Breeders' Stakes

Aheadbyacentury heads a field of nine Canadian-bred 3-year-olds for the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, third jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown, going 1 1/2 miles over the turf Aug. 18 at Woodbine.

There is no Triple Crown on the line this year, though, as filly Wonder Gadot, who captured both the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes, eschewed her chance at the famous triple to take on the best of North America's 3-year-old crop in the Aug. 25 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. It marks the 15th straight year without a Triple Crown champion in Canada.  Wando was the last to achieve the impressive three-race sweep in 2003.

In Wonder Gadot's absence, the ultra-consistent Aheadbyacentury, runner-up in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, will look to go one better for trainer John Ross, who owns the Midnight Lute  colt in partnership with Jack of Hearts Racing.

"That's what we're hoping for. Third time's a charm, hopefully," said Ross. "He just keeps coming, this horse. Right from the beginning of the year, even in the Queenston, which was short for him, he was still coming."

Aheadbyacentury, named for The Tragically Hip's song which was the encore at that group's farewell concert in Kingston, Ontario, enjoyed a rare opportunity to train over Woodbine's E.P. Taylor Turf Course this past weekend.

"It went really well. It was a training program I was looking forward to," Ross said. "I was really glad that Woodbine and Steve Lym (director of Thoroughbred racing) allowed us to get on there, and my horse really enjoyed it. Luis Contreras was on him, and they went right down the lane and had a good look around."

Aheadbyacentury launched his career in a pair of sprint stakes, finishing third in the Clarendon Stakes and fourth in the Simcoe Stakes before graduating in a maiden special weight while trying two turns for the first time.

The bay colt followed up his maiden score with a driving win in the prestigious Coronation Futurity when he was two lengths clear of Breeders' Stakes rival Neepawa.

Although winless in five starts as a sophomore, Aheadbyacentury has been knocking on the door with solid thirds in the Marine Stakes (G3) and Plate Trial Stakes ahead of his runner-up efforts in the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales.

"I think he got even better after the Trial. There's a couple of things that really improved on the horse, too. He's full of try all the time and he likes the distance," Ross said. "The horse has been trying so hard, it would be nice to see him win one of the Triple Crown races. He's hung on and been tough. He's the only one to do all three legs. He's a really nice horse."

Chiefswood Stable homebred Neepawa, a son of Scat Daddy, will provide steep opposition. The dark bay colt set his sights on the Queen's Plate but failed to menace, finishing 10th after pressing the pace. However, he returned to form July 28 with a good third in the Toronto Cup Stakes.

A pair of newcomers to the Canadian Triple Crown trail include Flight Deck and Ginger Sky.

Flight Deck, a dark bay son of Lemon Drop Kid  conditioned by Mike DePaulo, is owned by Le Amici Racing Stable and is bred to go long on the turf.

"We've been hopeful of making this race all along, because he's by Lemon Drop Kid, who won the Belmont. Pedigree-wise, it should be something he can handle," DePaulo said.

A winner at first asking in a maiden special weight turf sprint Sept. 24, Flight Deck went immediately into stakes company, finishing off the board in the Cup and Saucer Stakes and Coronation Futurity. In five starts this season, DePaulo has maintained his strong opinion of the gelding, entering in three open stakes events, including a sixth in the Wando and a pair of fourths in the Charlie Barley Stakes and Toronto Cup.

Ginger Sky, trained by former jockey Francine Villeneuve for owners CHS Horse Racing Partners and Thomas B. Uniacke, will make his turf debut Saturday.

"We've worked him extensively of late on the turf, and he's worked quite well. The distance and the new surface will be a question. He is a good size, exceptionally kind, and intelligent. He seems like he wants to run all day long," Villeneuve said.

Entries: Breeders' S.

Woodbine, Saturday, August 18, 2018, Race 10

• STK
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $400,000
• 3 yo
• 5:45 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Ginger Sky (ON)	Emma-Jayne Wilson	126	Francine A. Villeneuve	12/1
2	2Eskiminzin (ON)	Sheena Ryan	126	Carlos Grant	20/1
3	3Absolution (ON)	Alan Garcia	126	Tony Michael Gattellaro	20/1
4	4Real Dude (ON)	Gary Boulanger	126	Sid C. Attard	8/1
5	5Aheadbyacentury (ON)	Luis Contreras	126	John A. Ross	5/2
6	6Say the Word (ON)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	126	H. Graham Motion	3/1
7	7Neepawa (ON)	Jerome Lermyte	126	Mark E. Casse	6/1
8	8Flight Deck (ON)	David Moran	126	Michael P. De Paulo	10/1
9	9Hot Cash (ON)	Eurico Rosa Da Silva	121	Michael J. Doyle	7/2