Arresting performance: Notorious Gangster takes Queenston

TORONTO, June 8, 2025 – Notorious Gangster rallied impressively to win Sunday’s $125,000 Queenston Stakes at Woodbine, one of the key prep races leading up to the $1 million King’s Plate, on August 16.

The road to Canada’s most famous horse race is ramping up.

Trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame conditioner Josie Carrol for owner and breeder Mark Dodson, Notorious Gangster served notice that he is a serious Plate contender.

An early tussle for the early lead unfolded in the seven-furlong sprint for Canadian-foaled 3-year-olds, as Regal Guest, from the outside post seven, and 8-5 choice Dewolf, from the inside gate, met up just steps out of the gate, with the latter holding a half-length lead through an opening quarter in :23.41. Fraser Aebly, aboard Notorious Gangster, settled his charge into fifth in the early going.

Regal Guest and Dewolf continued to show the way through a half in :46.89, but Notorious Gangster and Aebly, now fourth, kept close tabs on the pacesetting pair heading into the turn for home.

Aebly, who had won the two previous races on the card leading up to the Queenston, found a seam in early stretch and powered the dark bay through the opening, and then set his sights on Regal Guest.

Notorious Gangster was on even terms with the leader less than 100 yards from the wire and went on to notch a half-length win over a game Regal Guest. Dewolf was a further 6 ¾ lengths back in third, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Lucky Guest.

The final time was 1:23.36.

“He broke very sharply for me and by the three-eighths pole we found ourselves in a nice position,” said Aebly, who was been aboard for all six starts. “He ran really hard for me all the way home – he’s very special.”

Notorious Gangster came into his fourth consecutive stakes engagement off a second (elevated from third) in the Woodstock Stakes on April 27.

He debuted last August at Woodbine and finished third at six furlongs over the main track. His maiden victory came one race later, on August 25, a head victory at 6 ½ furlongs on the same surface.

This past November, the son of Classic Empire out of the Verrazano mare Sister Nova recorded his second lifetime win and first stakes success when he took the Coronation Futurity, a 1 1/8-mile event for 2-year-olds foaled in Canada and a significant event on the road to the 166th running of The King’s Plate.

“He’s definitely grown up and matured a lot since last year,” said Aebly. “I think I fit him very well and he runs really hard for me. He’s awesome.”

Carroll, a three-time Plate winner, is confident Notorious Gangster can handle the Plate distance of 1 ¼ miles.

“I have no doubt he’s a route horse,” said Carroll, whose first Plate crown came with Edenwold in 2006. “I think he’s a two-turn horse – he just loves to run. From the day we’ve had him, I told Mark Dodson, ‘He’s just a little fighter.’ Any time he worked with another horse, he just pinned those ears and wanted his nose in front.”

Victor James is the groom.

Sent off at 5-1, Notorious Gangster, now 3-1-1 from six starts, paid $13 for today’s win.

Chris Lomon, Woodbine