June 14, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Stricken from the Record
Leave No Trace burst out of a tough five-race stretch with a strong-willed win in last month’s Vagrancy (G3) at 8-1.
The 4-year-old filly now eyes a third straight win, and second of the graded variety in the $200,000 Bed o’ Roses (G2) on Saturday afternoon.
It appeared Leave No Trace was destined for stardom after winning the 2022 Spinaway (G1) in just her second career start. The arrow continued to point up for the Philip Serpe trainee after a determined second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) as a 25-1 shot.
However, a subsequent five-race dry spell that saw Leave No Trace finish no higher than sixth put a serious damper on her prospects.
Fortunately, the Jose Lezcano mount has since rebounded, rattling off consecutive victories. She returns to a familiar setting in Aqueduct for a chance at a third graded title.
Almost there
To Baltimore Orioles fans, Siege of Boston is an effective description for the team’s dominance over the Red Sox this season (5-1 record against the BoSox). To horse racing fans, Siege of Boston (7-2) is a veteran competitor on the verge of a mid-career breakthrough.
The 5-year-old has come oh-so-close to a graded stakes win in three of four tries at the level, but the prestigious title still eludes him.
Two thirds and a second in the River City (G3T), Tampa Bay (G3T), and Canadian Turf (G3T), respectively, have teased Siege of Boston, but the James Toner trainee can finally flip the script this Saturday in the $150,000 Monmouth (G3T) at Monmouth Park.
Coastal Mission Impossible
One assignment Coastal Mission has yet to complete is ‘operation: graded stakes trophy.’
The 5-year-old gelding gets his third shot at the mission, with the new target being the $150,000 Salvator Mile (G3) at Monmouth.
Despite a lack of success at the graded ranks, fifth in the Cigar Mile (G2) and fourth in the Maryland Sprint (G3), Coastal Mission has otherwise put together a very formidable career.
In 20 starts altogether, the Jeff Runco charge is 12-3-1 with four Black Type stakes wins. That experience carries immeasurable value against a field that contains several lightly raced competitors.
Catch the third instalment of Coastal Mission’s (10-1) graded title tour on Saturday afternoon.
Sea of Opportunity
Ocean Club (6-1) can transform Monmouth’s winner’s circle into Club Ocean with a triumph in Saturday’s $150,000 Eatontown (G3T).
The Bethany Baumgardner protégé rides into the 1 1/16-mile affair on the heels of two straight scores, including the Monroe Stakes last time out on May 18.
The successful trip around Gulfstream’s turf marked the second stakes win in three tries for Ocean Club (2023 Martha Washington).
For those wondering how the Edwin Gonzalez mount has fared at the graded level, she is 0-1-0 in two attempts. Ocean Club’s second was a hard-fought effort at 12-1 in last July’s San Clemente (G2T).
Overall, the 4-year-old filly is 4-3-1 through 11 lifetime starts.
Here we are Again
After losing the big game, the first thought that pops into almost every athlete’s mind is, ‘will I ever make it here again?’
The 2023-24 Florida Panthers certainly answered that question, and so too did 5-year-old Offlee Naughty, who will compete in the $100,000 San Juan Capistrano (G3T) one year after falling short in the 1 ¾-mile contest.
It’s been a long road back to this point for Offlee Naughty, and it hasn’t been the smoothest of rides either. In four starts since last year’s Capistrano, the Michael McCarthy trainee has only landed in the money once (Grade 3 San Luis Rey on Mar. 23).
Despite the slow turn, the well-travelled Offlee Naughty is still a multiple graded stakes winner with plenty of expertise at the level (eight of 22 career starts at the graded tier).
Several questions will get their answers on Saturday.
