TORONTO, June 22—Lokinforpursemonee, a $32,000 buy at the local select yearling sale, has delivered on his name for owner/trainer John Ross, banking $202,920 in his first campaign and another $62,461 this year. On Sunday, Lokinforpursemonee could find more of the green stuff when he moves to the green grass of Woodbine’s turf course for the $100,000 Bold Ruckus, a six-furlong stakes which attracted 11 Ontario-sired 3-year-olds. “He’s doing very well,” said Ross, who sent out Lokinforpursemonee to capture the six-furlong Victoria and the 6 ½ furlong Simcoe last year and watched the colt record an upset victory in his sophomore bow in the open six-furlong Woodstock. "He’s just a hard-trying little horse; he always shows up somewhere.” Lokinforpursemonee displayed that quality in his second and most recent start of this season as he rallied to finish third in the seven-furlong Queenston, beaten a nose by runner-up Sailing Home as the victorious Yorkton controlled the pace. “It was a good race,” said Ross. “There wasn’t much speed up front. He made a good effort, and I was really happy with him.” What Ross cannot confidently predict is how Lokinforpursemonee will handle the grass. He tried the E.P. Taylor course once last year, ending a non-threatening seventh in the Cup and Saucer at 1 1/16 miles, Ross is hoping that finish was more a function of the distance than the surface. “The distance he didn’t like; I don’t know if you can overly go off that race,” said the owner/trainer. “Here, it is six furlongs—that’s his forte. We’re going to find out what it’s all about now.” Luis Contreras, who has ridden Lokinforpursemonee in his last two starts, will do the honors again here from the outside post. The horse to beat in the Bold Ruckus looks to be Sailing Home, who races for Manfred and Penny Conrad and is trained by Mark Casse. Sailing Home performed encouragingly in his lone try on turf, setting the pace en route to a good fourth-place finish in Gulfstream’s Grade 3, 1 1/16 mile Palm Beach on March 4. Sailing for Home finished fourth behind Lokinforpursemonee in the Woodstock before turning the tables in the Queenston. Mark Casse conditions Sailing Home, who will begin from post 5 under regular rider Patrick Husbands. The other horses in the Bold Ruckus lineup will be making their turf debuts. Joining Lokinforpursemonee as stakes winners in the field will be Signature Spring and Dragon’s Cry, whose successes came last year. Signature Spring, a homebred who races for Howard Walton and is trained by Sid Attard, captured the open six-furlong Colin in his second start but then finished second behind Dragon’s Cry in the restricted Bull Page at the same distance. In his latest appearance, Signature Spring got back on target with a rallying score while sporting the $75,000 tag in an optional claiming/first-level allowance here June 2. Dragon’s Cry weakened to finish fifth in that race, which was the second appearance of the season for the Goldmart Farm homebred trained by Bob Tiller. Eurico da Silva returns aboard Signature Spring while Gary Boulanger picks up the mount on Dragon’s Cry. Katalox, who failed to show his usual early foot when fourth as the favorite in that same race, also is back in the Bold Ruckus with David Moran in the irons for the first time. Courtly Manner, winner of two straight in optional $40,000 claiming company, will be looking to continue his ascent for trainer Barbara Minshall and owner/breeder Bruce Lunsford. Rafael Hernandez retains the mount. Rounding out the field will be Hangtime, Lowi Vene, One Flashy Cat, Where’s the Gold and Ben Lomond. Share This:Share
