Part-owner Ryan keeping Queen’s Plate as an option for Canadian-bred Messier
The American Triple Crown stays in the beginning on Canadian-bred Messier’s radar however part-owner Tom Ryan isn’t closing the door on the horse returning north to run within the $1-million Queen’s Plate.
The three-year-old colt — named after former NHL star Mark Messier — is the early 8-1 third selection for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Preakness is slated for Could 21 with the Belmont scheduled for June 11.
That may nonetheless go away Messier time to return to Canada on Aug. 21 for the Plate, North America’s oldest repeatedly run race and the primary jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack. In March, Messier was the even-money favorite within the Plate Winterbook.
Ryan is the managing associate of SF Bloodstock/SF Racing LLC — which has an possession stake in Messier. And whereas Ryan wouldn’t say undoubtedly that the heralded three-year-old colt will run in Toronto, he didn’t shut the door on it, both.
“It’s a race that’s not possible to disregard,” Ryan informed The Canadian Press. “It’s $1 million and I’m undecided both the space (1 1/4 miles) or floor (Tapeta) would bother this horse, I believe each could be to his satisfaction.
“I believe we’ve gone from 12 months to 12 months to month to month to now day after day. Let’s see the place we get to … I believe we’d wish to maintain our choices open on that.”
Messier was born and bred at Sam-Son Farm, in Milton, Ont., and bought for US$470,00 as a yearling. The horse has gained three of his six profession begins and by no means completed worse than second.
Messier heads into the annual Run for The Roses following a second-place end final month within the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.
Jim Lawson, the CEO of Woodbine Leisure, stated having Messier on the Plate will surely be a boon for each the occasion and racing business.
“I believe it will be good for the game, simply beginning with the identify Messier (being) acknowledged in Canada,” stated Lawson. “I believe it will be a really constructive factor for Canadian racing in the event that they got here, I believe it will be a really constructive factor for Canadian racing and breeding if Messier runs nicely Saturday so we as an business right here in Canada are definitely cheering for him.
“There’s clearly the historic connection to the Samuel household … it will imply rather a lot in so some ways for the horse to run nicely and in flip presumably come to Canada.”
Ernie Samuel based Sam-Son Farm in 1972 and constructed it right into a formidable racing/breeding operation. Following Samuel’s loss of life in 2000, his daughter, Tammy Samuel-Balaz took over earlier than her passing in 2008.
In 2020, the Sam-Son Farm introduced it will be dispersing its breeding and racing inventory.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Could 4, 2022.
