Latest news with #Pietro Moran
National Post
17 hours ago
- Sport
- National Post
Apprentice jockey Pietro Moran wins $1 million King's Plate aboard Mansetti
Last September, in one of the lowest-class races you can find in the area, Pietro Moran suffered a significant injury. Almost a year later, he captured Canada's biggest race. Article content The 20-year-old, still an apprentice jockey, won the $1 million King's Plate on Saturday aboard Mansetti in emphatic, front-running fashion. And for a kid who grew up at Woodbine, the emotions simply flowed after. Article content Article content 'There's no words to describe it,' he said. 'What a dream.' 'I watched my first Plate 15 years ago. My dad (David) finished third. And every year since, I've been watching and dreaming for this moment. I never thought it would come this soon.' Article content While currently the leader in the jockey standings at Woodbine, Moran didn't get a lot of support from the bettors as Mansetti went off a 19-1. But as soon as the gate opened, Mansetti used his rail post position to full effect, coming out of the gate and taking a slight lead over Scorching in the 13-runner field. Article content While the first quarter went in a quick 23 seconds, Moran was able to relax Mansetti on the lead in the backstretch. Around the turn, Mansetti began to open up on Scorching and in mid-stretch, had a four-length lead. He ended up winning by 2 1/2 lengths as U.S. invader Tom's Magic closed from well back early to finish second and 7-2 race favourite Notorious Gangster found his best late to grab third. Article content 'It worked out perfect,' Moran said. 'He broke good. I just loved the way he relaxed today.' Article content 'I was talking to him the whole way, saying 'good boy, you're doing good,' and he responded to me.' Article content A son of Collected, Mansetti is named for a chain of pizza restaurants in Minnesota, home of owners Al and Bill Ulwelling. Article content He won two of his three starts as a two-year-old, including the Clarendon Stakes. He started this season with a really poor effort in New York but his return home resulted in a win in the Woodstock Stakes. Another mediocre effort followed in the Queenston Stakes but he gave a much better account of himself in the Marine Stakes, setting him up for the Plate try. Article content 'This horse trained really well. He was flying a bit under the radar,' trainer Kevin Attard said. 'This horse really changed from two to three.' Article content 'He showed a lot of talent from a young age and I thought he was going to be a really good horse. He was keen and eager early and we didn't think he'd stretch out. But he matured nicely into his three-year-old year and he has figured things out.' Article content It took Attard nearly 20 years to get his first King's Plate, now he can't stop winning them. Mansetti gave him his third win in the race, which he first captured with Moira in 2022 and then with Caitlinhergrtness last year. He was especially thrilled this time for Moran, who had to spend this past winter recovering from a broken back and fractured rib after a spill in a $5,000 claiming race at Fort Erie. Article content 'To win this with Pietro Moran, a young up-and-coming rider, is that much more special for me,' Attard said. 'He's a great kid. He's worked hard in our stable. And to get this kind of success this early, it makes it that much more special to me.' Article content Scorching ended fourth. David Moran also rode in the race and finished eighth aboard Willian T. Woodbine Oaks winner No Time was a disappointing ninth, while Plate Trial winner Sedbury's Ghost was 11th.
CTV News
a day ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Apprentice jockey Pietro Moran guides Mansetti to win $1-million King's Plate race
Jockey Pietro Moran, riding Mansetti, celebrates his win of the King's Plate horse race, in Toronto, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn TORONTO — Apprentice jockey Pietro Moran rode Mansetti to a wire-to-wire win in the $1-million King's Plate on Saturday. Moran, 20, earned trainer Kevin Attard his third Plate victory as Mansetti, an 18-1 pick, covered the 1 1/4-mile race in two minutes 3.38 seconds. Tom's Magic was second, 2 1/2 lengths back, while Notorious Gangster finished third in the 13-horse field. Moran earned the Plate victory in just his second start in the race. His father, David, also rode in the race aboard William T. The second jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown is the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, which goes Sept. 9 at Fort Erie Racetrack. Earlier, She Feels Pretty took the lead on the final turn then held off a hard-charging Diamond Rain to win the $750,000 E.P. Taylor turf event by a head. That earned She Feels Pretty an an automatic berth into the US$2-million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf event Nov. 1 at Del Mar. She Feels Pretty, the 2/5 favourite ridden by John Velazquez, won the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:00.80. Ready for Shirl came on late to finish third ahead of Valencia. The E.P. Taylor was held Saturday rather than its usual September slot because upgrades to the E.P. Taylor Turf Course will begin shortly. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 16, 2025.
CBC
a day ago
- Sport
- CBC
Apprentice jockey Pietro Moran guides Mansetti wins $1-million King's Plate race
Apprentice jockey Pietro Moran rode Mansetti to a wire-to-wire win in the $1-million King's Plate on Saturday in Toronto. Moran, 20, earned trainer Kevin Attard his third Plate victory as Mansetti, an 18-1 pick, covered the 1 1/4-mile race in two minutes 3.38 seconds. Tom's Magic was second, 2 1/2 lengths back, while Notorious Gangster finished third in the 13-horse field. Moran earned the Plate victory in just his second start in the race. His father, David, also rode in the race aboard William T. The second jewel of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown is the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, which goes Sept. 9 at Fort Erie Racetrack. Earlier, She Feels Pretty took the lead on the final turn then held off a hard-charging Diamond Rain to win the $750,000 E.P. Taylor turf event by a head. That earned She Feels Pretty an an automatic berth into the US$2-million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf event Nov. 1 at Del Mar. She Feels Pretty, the 2/5 favourite ridden by John Velazquez, won the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:00.80. Ready for Shirl came on late to finish third ahead of Valencia.
