Lokinforpursemonee in search of Queenston score

Trained by John Ross for his J.R. Racing Stable, the Silent Name bay has really lived up to his name with a record of three wins and two seconds from seven starts and purse earnings in excess of $250,000 thanks in large part to victories in the Victoria and Simcoe Stakes as a juvenile.

He comes into Saturday’s seven furlong Tapeta sprint for Canadian-bred sophomores off a driving score in the six furlong Woodstock Stakes.

"He is well named. When it’s all said and done, everybody loves purse money right?" laughed Ross. "I named him that because he’s out of a mare named Anne’s Purse and it just went together well."

Bred in Ontario by Hill ‘N’ Dale Farms, Lokinforpursemonee seems to have found his calling in sprint events.

"I guess you could call him a ‘come-from-behind sprinter’. That’s the way he likes to do it. Some of his best races have been that way," said Ross.

Ross did try the talented bay around two turns on a couple of occasions in 2016 finishing second to Queenston rival Jurojin in the Kingarvie Stakes​ and later finishing off the board in the 1 1/8-mile Coronation Futurity.

And while his Plate nominated Queenston rivals including Marten River, Woodbridge, Yorkton, Sailing Home, Colton’s Corner, Jurojin and Rock You are looking down the road at the $1-million Gallop for the Guineas​, Ross has other ideas in mind for the improving Lokinforpursemonee.

"I did try him long and it didn’t work out, so I’ll keep him in the category he’s good at. I don’t think I’d run him any further than seven-eighths or maybe a mile on the grass," said Ross. "I’ll keep him in the realm he’s really good at.

"When you win a couple of two-year-old stakes races you have to try and go two turns because of the Plate, but we tried it and it didn’t work out," continued Ross. "The trainer finally smartened up and put him where he can do good things."

Lokinforpursemonee earned a career-best 88 Beyer Speed Figure with an impressive score in the Woodstock Stakes, at an overlaid 14-1, closing into an aggressive :22.37 and :44.39 pace set by Yorkton. On Saturday, the pace may not be as torrid.

"It does (worry me). I figure going seven eighths there will be a little more finesse up front. But, if you look at his form, a lot of his earlier races he was racing up close and still finished up okay. He can be versatile," said Ross.

Lokinforpursemonee posted a sharp four furlong breeze in :48.40 on May 6 in preparation for the Queenston.

"He came out of his last race really well and that’s what trainers like to see. He’s eating good and feeling good and we’re looking for a big effort from him," said Ross.

Last year, Conquest Enforcer captured the Queenston Stakes before switching surfaces en route to a championship campaign as Canada’s Champion turf horse.

The Queenston Stakes is slated as Race 8 on Saturday’s 10-race card. First post time is 1PM. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

1 / Rock You / Ismael Mosqueira / John Mattine

2 / Marten River / David Moran / Dave Bell

3 / Sailing Home / Patrick Husbands / Mark Casse

4 / Jurojin / Omar Moreno / Harold Ladouceur

5 / Woodbridge / Jesse Campbell / Mike Keogh

6 / Yorkton / Eurico Rosa da Silva / Stu Simon

7 / Colton’s Corner / Rafael Hernandez / Sid Attard

8 / Lokinforpursemonee / Luis Contreras / John Ross