Former U.S. classic starter Frac Daddy has found his forte as a synthetic surface specialist and will bid for his fourth win from as many starts on an artificial track in the $150,000 Dominion Day Stakes (Can-III) July 1 at Woodbine..
The gray son of Scat Daddy romped to five-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Eclipse Stakes (Can-II) on track's Polytrack surface June 1 in his first venture to the Toronto-area track.
Trained by Ken McPeek for Magic City Thoroughbred Partners of Billings, Montana, Frac Daddy won twice on Keeneland's Polytrack surface, including the Ben Ali Stakes (gr. II) April 19 before a creditable fourth-place finish in the 1 3/8-mile Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) on the inner turf at Belmont Park May 11.
The 1 1/4-mile Eclipse drew four other entrants, including Sam-Son Farm homebred His Race to Win and Windhaven Farms' Peyton, both of whom reoppose after finishing a respective fifth and sixth in the Eclipse.
His Race to Win seeks to add second graded stakes win to his record. Trained by Malcolm Pierce the Stormy Atlantic colt has won three of his five most recent starts, including a 1 1/16 mile race on Keeneland's Polytrack before the Eclipse and the Ontario Derby (Can-III) last September at Woodbine.
Trainer Michael Doyle sends out Peyton in search of a breakthrough stakes win. The Tale of the Cat gelding owns a second and third in 2012 and 2013 editions of the Valedictory Stakes (Can-III) and brings a seven-race winless streak into the Dominion Day.
The field is rounded out by 2012 Toronto Cup Stakes winner Patrioticandproud, placed in two both starts at Woodbine this year for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber, and John Oxley's Sky Captain, who enters off a May 18 allowance win at Woodbine.
Dominion Day Stakes (Can-III, race 8, approximate post time 4:35 p.m. EDT), 3YO & Up, 1 1/4 miles, all weather
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Sky Captain (KY), P. Husbands, 117, M. E. Casse
2. Frac Daddy (KY), L. Contreras, 123, K. G. McPeek
3. His Race to Win (ON) , E. R. Da Silva, 121, M. Pierce
4. Patrioticandproud (PA), J. M. Campbell, 117, M. E. Casse
5. Peyton (ON), J. Stein, 117, M. J. Doyle
