Field Commission , back in the winner's circle three weeks ago after returning to Woodbine's Polytrack, is among a tough group of sprinters entered for the $150,000 Kennedy Road Stakes (Can-III) Nov. 20.
The race is the seventh on the program at the Toronto track with a 3:57 p.m. EST post.
Trained by Daniel Vella, who co-owns the 5-year-old Ontario-bred son of Service Stripe with Edward Seltzer, Field Commission ran second in last year's six-furlong Kennedy Road. The million-dollar earner finished three-quarters of a length behind Smokey Fire, who was nominated to the Kennedy Road once again this year but not entered.
In his most recent start Oct. 31, Field Commission overcame a rough start to score by one length over Signature Red in a top-level allowance event, ending an eight-race losing streak. Winner of the Vigil Stakes (Can-III) on Polytrack and the Nearctic Stakes (Can-IIT) on grass last year, Field Commission was coming off a pair of sub-par efforts on turf. They included a distant fourth in defense of his Nearctic crown Oct. 16.
Emile Ramsammy, who was aboard Field Commission for the allowance score, retains the mount.
Signature Red, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Bernstein, will get a rematch with Field Commission after failing to hold the lead last time in the six-furlong allowance. The versatile performer, trained by Sid Attard for Norseman Racing Stable, was a grade II winner on the Woodbine turf earlier this season. He also ran third in last year's Kennedy Road.
Seven were entered in the Kennedy Road, and if bettors don't opt for Field Commission or Signature Red, they'll probably land on Fatal Bullet. The multiple graded stakes victor has been in the money in all five of his starts this year (a second and four thirds) but is yet to win.
Fatal Bullet, with earnings of more than $1.1 million, is the 126-pound high weight, giving seven pounds to Signature Red and nine to Field Commission. Trained by Reade Baker for Bear Stables, the 5-year-old Red Bullet gelding also returns to Polytrack after forcing the pace in the Nearctic and settling for third in a game try. He is a nine-time winner in 20 starts, but will be looking to snap a six-race losing streak since winning Keeneland's Phoenix Stakes (gr. III) last fall.
Lindy M. Redding's Ravalo, a consistent stakes performer with a career mark of 14-9-8 in 39 starts, tries Woodbine's Polytrack for the first time for trainer Donald Barr. The 6-year-old Mutakddim gelding won last year's Maryland Sprint Handicap (gr. III) on dirt and is coming off a fifth in Keeneland's Woodford Stakes (gr. IIIT) on turf, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Silver Timber Oct. 9.
Forgetthestorm, an optional claiming allowance winner in his last effort Oct. 16 at Woodbine, is the only 3-year-old in the field. He makes his graded stakes debut for trainer Josie Carroll.
$150,000 Kennedy Road Stakes (Can-III, Race 7, 3:57 p.m.), 3 & Up, 6 Furlongs (Synthetic)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Forgetthestorm (ON), C Sutherland, 115, J Carroll
2. Signature Red (KY), L Contreras, 119, S C Attard
3. Ravalo (KY), J Sanchez, 115, D H Barr
4. Fatal Bullet (FL), E R Da Silva, 126, R Baker
5. General Brock (KY), T Pizarro, 115, E R Charalambous
6. Field Commission (ON), E Ramsammy, 117, D J Vella
7. Paso Doble (KY), E Wilson, 115, D C MacRae
Field Commission faces 6 in the Kennedy Road Stakes.
Michael Burns