Sam-Son Farm will have a pair of chances, namely, Tidal Forces, and Dance Some Mo, to add a sixth Queen\u2019s Plate trophy to its impressive collection of horse racing hardware.<\/p>\n
Listed at 50-1 in the Queen\u2019s Plate Winterbook, Tidal Forces, trained by Gail Cox, earned himself a nickname early on his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call him Brutus,\u201d noted Cox. \u201cAs a young horse, he had this huge neck, a big, fat, wide neck. As he’s grown up, he’s certainly lengthened out a bit and become much more refined. He’s really quite beautiful. He\u2019s a pretty cool guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unraced at two, Tidal Forces debuted in April at Gulfstream Park and galloped away with a win. Next time out, in mid-June at Woodbine, he was back in the winner\u2019s circle. In his final race before the Plate, the Marine Stakes on July 11, he was fifth.<\/p>\n One thing Cox won\u2019t have to worry about with her Plate charge is any pre-race jitters.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you’re walking out to the track with him, you’d almost think he’s lazy. He kind of wanders out and wanders back. But when you turn around to gallop him, he’s quite powerful. That’s just the type of horse you love to have, one who can turn the dial from laid-back to all business.\u201d<\/p>\n Cox, who teamed with Sam-Son Farm and El Tormenta to win the 2019 edition of the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, is thrilled to have Tidal Forces in her barn.<\/p>\n Praise for the dark bay, who will have champion jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard Sunday, flows easily for the veteran conditioner.<\/p>\n \u201cHe eats well and he’s pretty easy to deal with. He walks over the paddock calmly. He’s just very professional in everything he does. There are times when you see little signs of immaturity, losing focus a little bit, but I’m really happy with everything when it comes to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Juan Balbuena is the groom of Tidal Forces.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Avoman looks for Plate Trial-Plate double<\/strong><\/p>\n After taking the Plate Trial three weeks ago, Avoman, a son of top Canadian sire Old Forester, goes after top prize in the $1 million Queen\u2019s Plate, Sunday at Woodbine.<\/p>\n Trained by Don MacRae, who co-owns with La Huerta Inc. (Jim and Graeme Bruce), the dark bay arrives at the 162nd<\/sup> running of Canada\u2019s iconic event in winning form.<\/p>\n Avoman\u2019s confidence isn\u2019t lacking after the victory.<\/p>\n \u201cI still think he\u2019s learning,\u201d offered MacRae. \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve reached the bottom of him yet. His last race\u2026 I only think he ran as hard as he needed to. Once he got the lead, he eased up on the gas a little bit. I still think there is more for him to give. The race didn\u2019t take a lot of out him. His arrogance level is even higher than before that race.\u201d<\/p>\n Bred by Joe Gee Thoroughbreds, Avoman finished third in his debut last September at Woodbine. After taking the Bull Page Stakes, he closed his 2-year-old campaign with a fifth in the Frost King Stakes. The Ontario-bred came into the Plate Trial off a third-place effort on July 3 at the Toronto oval.<\/p>\n How did his connections come up with the name Avoman?<\/p>\n \u201cLa Huerta Imports supplies tropical produce, including avocados,\u201d said MacRae. \u201cWhen it came to the naming process, Jim mentioned that we call him Avoman. To me, that\u2019s the coolest name you could possibly come up with. We all love it.\u201d<\/p>\n The ownership group also cherishes the chance to be part of North America\u2019s oldest continually run stakes race.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re dreaming big\u2026 that\u2019s the whole part of being in this business,\u201d said MacRae. \u201cI\u2019m not going into the race with wild dreams thinking he\u2019s the horse to beat. We\u2019re hoping he can run the race of his life. It\u2019s a big field and a wide-open field.\u201d<\/p>\n Antonio Gallardo, who moved his tack to Woodbine in July, will once again be in the irons. Avoman\u2019s groom is Richard Taylor.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Riptide Rock right at home at Woodbine<\/strong><\/p>\n Riptide Rock is two-for-two at Woodbine and his connections are hoping that perfect record is still intact when the sun goes down on August 22.<\/p>\n A Stronach Stables homebred, Riptide Rock was victorious in his racing debut last October 17 in a six-furlong maiden special weight contest over the E. P. Taylor Turf Course. The Point Of Entry son then wintered south of the border with trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, making four starts between February and May before returning to Woodbine to prep for the Queen\u2019s Plate. On June 16, he got his second win at the Toronto oval with an off-the-pace effort over six furlongs on the main track.<\/p>\n Sid Attard trains Riptide Rock in Canada, and the good feeling son of Point Of Entry is a favourite in his barn, getting extra attention from both exercise rider Alex Soultan and caretaker Joseph Ferris.<\/p>\n \u201cMy exercise boy really loves this horse, he takes forever with him, takes his time, lets him look around and all of this,\u201d said Attard. \u201cJoseph, he loves the horse too, he\u2019s had him since we have him in. In the morning, when he\u2019s all done, he takes him out, grazes him, all this.\u201d<\/p>\n Attard said the horse returned from his southern sojourn in excellent condition and has maintained both his weight and his positive attitude over the last three months.<\/p>\n \u201cTouching wood, he has been doing really, really good,\u201d said Attard. \u201cI like the way he\u2019s going and I like the way he\u2019s looking too. He\u2019s keeping the weight really good and he\u2019s very happy.<\/p>\n \u201cHe likes to go out there and do his training,\u201d the trainer added. \u201cSometimes I see him galloping and he starts squealing, jumping around, when he\u2019s galloping and his tail goes up in the air, and I like to see that. He\u2019s happy.\u201d<\/p>\n If Riptide Rock and David Moran can get the job done on Sunday, happy might not be a big enough word to encompass Attard\u2019s feelings. The Queen\u2019s Plate has been an elusive goal for the Hall of Fame trainer, who has finished second and third but never raised the trophy.<\/p>\n![\"Tidal](\"https:\/\/woodbine.com\/queensplate\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2021\/08\/TidalForces-morning-August-2021-800x533.jpeg\")
<\/a>![\"Don](\"https:\/\/woodbine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Avoman-morning-August-2021-800x533.jpeg\")
<\/a>![\"Riptide](\"https:\/\/woodbine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Riptide-Rock-morning-August-2021-800x533.jpeg\")
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