DUNDAS, ON — Thirty-five sophomore pacing colts with visions of provincial stardom in their eyes will kick off the 2004 Ontario Sires Stakes season at Flamboro Downs this Sunday.
The majority of the colts are newcomers to the lucrative Sires Stakes program, with just 11 veterans of the two-year-old Gold Series ready for the early season skirmish. Among the novices hoping to make their mark this year is Captain Dave, owned by Hamilton resident Antonio Chiaravalle, who heads into the eighth race off a solid runner-up finish in a May 4 qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack.
“I just acquired the horse a couple of weeks ago. We finished him off and got him ready to qualify and he qualified very strong. He was very strong at the wire,” says trainer Nat Varty.
The Apaches Fame son made one appearance in the Gold Series as a two-year-old, and just six starts in total for earnings of $18,035. Although they do not expect to strike gold in the colt’s first three-year-old outing, Chiaravalle and Varty are hoping the athletic pacer will develop into a legitimate player as the season progresses.
“You have to remember this is his first start of the season so he’s going to need some luck to advance, but it’s a long year and we’re patient,” says Varty. “He’s a very willing horse, he likes to train and he knows his job so we’re hoping he will race well in the Sires Stakes.”
In addition to the May 4 qualifier, Varty has been prepping Captain Dave for Sunday’s $32,715 contest by training him in company at his Warsaw farm and he has been impressed with the colt’s workmanlike attitude.
“You can’t race him in his first start like he’s a four-year-old, but he’s been training in groups and he’s pretty good about his job,” says the horseman. “He knows what he’s got to do.”
Captain Dave will start from Post 7 in the eighth race, facing off against veterans Daylon Boy (Post 2) and Groovie Day (Post 5).
Daylon Boy heads into Sunday’s contest off an April 27 race at Mohawk were he suffered interference turning for home. The winner of $120,678, owned by trainer Mario Macri of Oakville, Eric Udrzal of Mississauga and Carmine Cesta of Toronto, will be looking for a little more racing luck in his 2004 OSS debut.
Groovie Day prepped for his sophomore season with an April 30 qualifier at Mohawk were he finished a close-run third in the 1:55.1 mile. Carlisle resident Bill Budd trains the Gothic Dream son for C and I Racing Stable Ltd. of Brooklyn, NY.
Flamboro Downs sends its first race to the post at 6:20 pm on Sunday evening and the three-year-old pacing colts will raise the curtain on their Ontario Sires Stakes season in races 4, 6, 8, and 10. To advance to the May 16 $100,000 Final the colts will need a top two finish in the elimination round.