CA$150,000 Ontario Derby (G3), for 3-year-olds and CA$125,000 Ontario Damsel, for 3-year-olds, co-titled for a 10-race card on October 23 at Honeysuckle.
Coach Willie Armata and his father, fellow nurse Vito Armata, each have a legit contender in the Ontario Derby, the 1/8km main track incline including the multi-stakes winner. Ironstone trained by the younger Armata, and Luckman was campaigned by eldest brother Armata, who posted in appreciation for his first bet win last time in the Toronto Cup Stakes.
A gray son of Mr Speaker , Ironstone has been a model of consistency throughout its 11 races. Sportsbook 2-4-3, the pony, who won the Simcoe Stakes and Clarendon Stakes last year, is fourth in this year’s Queen’s Plate Bet and second in the Prince of Wales Bet, the opening two jewels. in the Canadian Crown Trio.
Owned by Tequesta Racing and Jupiter Leasing Co., Ironstone has never finished worse than fifth in its career.
Despite not winning in 2022, year two, bred in Ontario by Kingview Farms, has a second and a third trio from five starts.
“I’m 100% proud of him,” said Willie Armata. “He’s going to go out there and give us the best he can every time we bring him in. He’s doing really well in the race. He’s had a couple of good pieces, he’s got it. happy and he’s ready. Unfortunately we have to run with ‘Papa Vit’, but what are you going to do? I usually don’t like to run against dad if we don’t have to, but on this occasion, we will.”
Vito Armata, who rolled out the Lucky Moon 82-1 TJ to win Queen’s Plate 2002, will once again reassure Luckman, who has had exceptionally good results since he claimed the horse for $25,000. Canadian dollars on June 24.
Beginning his career at Woodbine last August, Luckman posted a few seconds in four warm-ups before heading south to open his 2022 campaign. After difficult results at Fair Grounds & Slots, Keenelandand Churchill Downshe returned to Woodbine for his maiden break in June.
Luckman has won three races in a row since arriving at the new stable, four in a row including the win the day he was announced.
The son of Empire Maker heading into the Ontario Derby to win the Toronto Cup on September 10, when he plunged down the lane to take the neck win in the one-mile test on the EP Taylor Turf Course.
“I’ve liked the horse since he was a kid,” Vito Armata said after the Toronto Cup.
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Luckman, bred by Tenlane Farm, is 4-2-0 from 13 starts.
“Both horses, they have different styles,” suggested Willie. “That helps. Dad’s horses like to be close and our horses like to be put forward, so they’ll run their own race.”
The Ontario Derby could mark the end of an aspect of Ironstone’s career. For now, the plan for next season is to focus on sprint races.
Ontario Damsel, 1 1/16 miles away on Tapeta, includes many graded stake winners Souper Hoity Toity and a big bet winner Sister Seagull .
Item: Ontario Derby (G3)
HoneysuckleSunday, October 23, 2022, Race 9
- Level III
- 1 1/8 minutes
- All weather tracker
- 150,000 dollars
- 3 yo
- 5:42 pm (local)
Item: Ontario Damsel S.
HoneysuckleSunday, October 23, 2022, Race 3
- STK
- 1 1/16m
- All weather tracker
- $125,000
- 3 yo Fillies
- 2:22pm (local)
This press release has been edited and styled by the BloodHorse Staff.
