TORONTO, August 13, 2025 – Longhi, trained by multiple graded stakes winner Graham Motion, will test out the stakes ranks for the first time in the $150,000 bet365 Soaring Free, a 6 ½-furlong race over the E.P. Taylor turf for 2-year-olds, Saturday at Woodbine. Part of a King’s Plate card that also features five stakes, the Soaring Free has attracted nine hopefuls, including Longhi. The grey colt, a Kentucky homebred for Wertheimer et Frere, heads into the race off an adventure-filled win on July 18 at Colonial Downs. Longhi (Maggie Kimmitt Photography) Body checked at the outset of the 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight on the main track (the race was originally scheduled for the turf), Longhi was settled near the back of the back in the 11-horse field. Saving ground into the turn for home, the colt, under Jorge Ruiz, had to find a seam behind a wall of rivals before swinging wide at the top of the lane. After finding a clear run, Longhi powered home to win by 4 ¾ lengths in 1:06.00. “The game plan was to go down there and race on the grass, and we felt pretty good about it,” said Motion. “It came off the grass and he had always breezed pretty well on the dirt, so we decided to take a shot. He was very impressive and here we are. We have to go to the next level. Jane Buchanan, racing manager for Motion’s stable, pointed out the Soaring Free as a good fit for Longhi. “I thought it made a lot of sense,” said Motion. “I think he will appreciate going further. I had a conversation with the farm manager as to what we do next, whether we stick with the dirt because he won or go to the turf. I would be surprised if he is not a grass horse. Who knows? Maybe one day we will come back to the dirt. I think for now that this is the right path. We also have John Velazquez riding, which is a bonus. “He has always been a straight-forward horse. Usually, when you start a horse early, it is usually because you like them and handle everything well. He was just one of those horses who went through everything that was asked of him and did it well.” The son of multiple Group 1 winner Caravaggio, out of Lovely Moment (ARG), by Equal Stripes (ARG), breezed five furlongs in 1:01:20 at Fair Hill on August 7. “He has always been a very nice work horse, so I was very happy with that. My experience with a couple of Caravaggios has been very good. They are very good students. Two of my first few 2-year-old starters have been Caravaggios. They handle the program very well.” Trainer Mark Casse sends out the trio of Casson, Jupiter, and Rude Procedure, who finished first, second and third, respectively, in the Victoria Stakes on July 12 at Woodbine. Soaring Free, who lends this stakes his name, was Canada’s Horse of the Year and Outstanding Turf Male in 2004 after capturing the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile. Soaring Free retired in 2006 at age seven after trying for his third win in the Shakertown at Keeneland, losing by less than three lengths. He compiled a record of 15 wins (10 in stakes races) and four seconds in 27 starts and purse earnings of $2,110,371. The Sam-Son Farm homebred was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2013. The wagering menu for the Soaring Free includes Rolling Double, Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 11-12-13), $1 Swinger. Fans can wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and bet365.com. Field for the Soaring Free Stakes – Race 11 Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Two Out Hero – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard 2 – Jutland – Sofia Vives – Kelsey Danner 3 – Longhi – John Velaquez – Graham Motion 4 – Casson – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse 5 – Jupiter – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse 6 – Baytown Dreamer – Declan Cannon – Paul McEntee 7 – Mo Dodgy – Addiel Ayala – Kevin Rice 8 – Rude Procedure – Pietro Moran – Mark Casse 9 – Argos – Flavien Prat – Riley Mott Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
