Latest news with #Scorching
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Scorching puts Woodbine trainer Charalambous in position to chase King's Plate dream
King's Plate favourite No Time trains ahead of Saturday's race. Michael Burns photo Horse racing is a sport of dreams — everyone who works in the sport in Canada dreams of winning, or at the very least participating in, the King's Plate. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account For the bigger operations, being in the Plate is usually a given. For smaller stables, the wait can be a lot longer. For John Charalambous, that wait was 43 years. Charalambous has been a mainstay on the Woodbine backstretch since he started training thoroughbreds in 1982 at the age of 22, but having a Canadian-bred three-year-old good enough to start in Canada's biggest horse race eluded him. That changes on Saturday when he sends out Scorching in search of the lion's share of the $1 million prize. And at 10-1 in the morning line, he's a contender. 'If this is my first one and only one, I'm in with a very good chance,' Charalambous said. 'I'm excited, but more so, I'm nervous.' A son of Mo Town, Scorching broke his maiden in the Simcoe Stakes last August. He was then beaten by a nose in the Cup and Saucer Stakes, but was promoted to top spot via disqualification. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Scorching then picked up where he left off in June when finishing second to Mansetti in the Marine Stakes. He followed that up with a strong third-place finish in the Plate Trial, giving up a mid-stretch lead late to Sedbury's Ghost and Notorious Gangster. 'I thought he ran really well,' Charalambous said. 'He needed the race because he had a significant amount of time off before his first race of the year.' The only real concern that Charalambous has is Scorching's ability to last 1¼ miles. He has enlisted U.S.-based rider Jose Lezcano to try and squeeze every last inch out of the colt. But don't expect any wasted energy. '(Scorching) is just very professional, enjoys his training, and enjoys everything about being a racehorse,' Charalambous said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Mythical Man and Watsonville Red were listed at 50-1 when post positions were drawn at Woodbine on Tuesday. For Watsonville Red, being a longshot winner is nothing new as his maiden score returned $58.90 for two bucks. He was 34-1 in the Plate Trial, but a fourth-place finish made a few superfecta bettors happy and gave trainer Mike De Paulo hope that the long distance of the Plate could produce another large mutuel price. 'I think his strength is that he's a stayer,' De Paulo said. 'If you have a Canadian-bred who is fit, happy and can run long, you have a chance.' Leo Salles was on board Watsonville Red for both the maiden score and the Trial effort so he has again earned De Paulo's confidence here. Mythical Man is a bit of an unknown. Trained by Danny Gargan, best known for his 2024 Belmont Stakes win with Dornoch, Mythical Man won at both Aqueduct and Gulfstream last year, but his only outing this year resulted in a non-factoring seventh-place finish in the minor Manila Stakes at Saratoga. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Mythical Man's greatest strength is that he is a trier,' Gargan said. 'He's a grinder. His biggest thing is that he tries every time.' Sofia Vives, Canada's champion apprentice jockey the past two seasons, gets her first Plate mount. BETTER FORECAST Last year's Plate will be long remembered for the freak rain storm that resulted in a five-day postponement. Saturday's forecast calls for some clouds, but the race should go off without issues. Read More PLATE FIELD 1. Mansetti (Kevin Attard/Pietro Moran*) 10-1 2. William T (Don MacRae/David Moran) 20-1 3. Notorious Gangster (Josie Carroll/Fraser Aebly) 9-2 4. Scorching (John Charalambous/Jose Lezcano) 10-1 5. Mythical Man (Danny Gargan/Sofia Vives) 50-1 6. Faber (Kevin Attard/Pietro Moran*) 30-1 7. Runaway Again (Sid Attard/Javier Castellano) 12-1 8. Dewolf (Kevin Attard/Flavien Prat) 30-1 9. Watsonville Red (Mike De Paulo/Leo Salles) 50-1 10. No Time (Mark Casse/John Velazquez) 7-2 11. Tom's Magic (Michael Stidham/Rafael Hernandez) 5-1 12. Sedbury's Ghost (Barb Minshall/Ryan Munger) 6-1 13. Ashley's Archer (Mark Casse/Sahin Civaci) 12-1 Toronto Blue Jays Canada Toronto Blue Jays World Sunshine Girls
National Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- National Post
Scorching puts Woodbine trainer Charalambous in position to chase King's Plate dream
Horse racing is a sport of dreams — everyone who works in the sport in Canada dreams of winning, or at the very least participating in, the King's Plate. Article content For the bigger operations, being in the Plate is usually a given. For smaller stables, the wait can be a lot longer. For John Charalambous, that wait was 43 years. Article content Charalambous has been a mainstay on the Woodbine backstretch since he started training thoroughbreds in 1982 at the age of 22, but having a Canadian-bred three-year-old good enough to start in Canada's biggest horse race eluded him. Article content That changes on Saturday when he sends out Scorching in search of the lion's share of the $1 million prize. And at 10-1 in the morning line, he's a contender. Article content 'If this is my first one and only one, I'm in with a very good chance,' Charalambous said. 'I'm excited, but more so, I'm nervous.' Article content A son of Mo Town, Scorching broke his maiden in the Simcoe Stakes last August. He was then beaten by a nose in the Cup and Saucer Stakes, but was promoted to top spot via disqualification. Article content Scorching then picked up where he left off in June when finishing second to Mansetti in the Marine Stakes. He followed that up with a strong third-place finish in the Plate Trial, giving up a mid-stretch lead late to Sedbury's Ghost and Notorious Gangster. 'I thought he ran really well,' Charalambous said. 'He needed the race because he had a significant amount of time off before his first race of the year.' Article content The only real concern that Charalambous has is Scorching's ability to last 1¼ miles. He has enlisted U.S.-based rider Jose Lezcano to try and squeeze every last inch out of the colt. But don't expect any wasted energy. Article content Article content Article content 'I think his strength is that he's a stayer,' De Paulo said. 'If you have a Canadian-bred who is fit, happy and can run long, you have a chance.' Article content Leo Salles was on board Watsonville Red for both the maiden score and the Trial effort so he has again earned De Paulo's confidence here. Article content Mythical Man is a bit of an unknown. Trained by Danny Gargan, best known for his 2024 Belmont Stakes win with Dornoch, Mythical Man won at both Aqueduct and Gulfstream last year, but his only outing this year resulted in a non-factoring seventh-place finish in the minor Manila Stakes at Saratoga.
National Post
28-06-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Mansetti wins the Marine Stakes at Woodbine
Kevin Attard has another King's Plate win in his sights. Article content The two-time Plate-winning trainer has two solid contenders pointed to the August 16 classic, including Mansetti, who had a solid trip in winning the $175,000 Marine Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday. Article content Article content 'He's earned his way into the race now off this win,' Attard said. Article content Ridden by Pietro Moran, Mansetti sat a comfortable second in the early part of the race behind pacesetter War Signal. Moran pushed the three-year-old colt to the lead just before the top of the stretch and held off Scorching by a length at odds of 5-1. Article content Article content 'When we heard the outside horses around the turn, he really picked it up,' Moran, Woodbine's leading rider said. 'He showed me he's going to grind the rest of the way and down the lane it was just a matter of getting him home. He's all heart.' Article content Distance had been a question mark for Mansetti. Article content 'This spring, he's trained differently,' Attard said. 'He's really mentally matured a lot.' Article content 'He's always showed a lot of talent, it's just been a matter of one good race, one bad race.' Article content Mansetti may join well-regarded stablemate Dewolf in the plate. John Charalambous-trained Scorching may also be in the field after a good outing in his first start since October. Article content Article content The Marine was one of five stakes on the card. Patches O'Houlihan scored his second turf stakes win in the $234,000 Highlander Stakes. And just like last year in the Nearctic Stakes, the reigning Canadian horse of the year nearly drifted to the outside rail but still managed to hold off My Boy Prince by a neck. Article content Jockey Sofia Vives tried to keep him as straight as possible but the five-year-old continued to drift his way to his 13th win in 16 career starts. Unfortunately, Patches O'Houlihan suffered a soft-tissue leg injury and was pulled up after the race. He was able to walk onto the horse van and was reported to be resting well once he returned to his stall. Article content Vives returned to win the $180,000 Nassau Stakes aboard 12-1 long shot Ocean Club. They took control of the race with over a half-mile remaining and had more than enough in the stretch to hold off Ready For Shirl for a one-length score. Article content Tom Proctor trains the five-year-old mare who now has six wins in 20 career starts. 2024 King's Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness was well back. Article content In the $158,000 Dominion Day Stakes, Funtastic Again took the lead at the break and went gate-to-tire. Victor Espinoza, making a rare venture to Woodbine, rode the five-year-old Wesley Ward trainee to the win. The Kentucky-based horse now has five wins in 13 career starts. Article content The $150,000 Selene Stakes was also won in gate-to-wire fashion. Serendipity took command within the first few strides in the 1 1/16-mile race and never saw a rival the rest of the way. Rafael Hernandez rode the three-year-old daughter of Street Sense, who was making her first start for trainer Josie Carroll and first start on a synthetic surface. Article content
