TORONTO, September 14, 2024 – Fresh off an impressive winning debut, Ride for the Purse, a dark bay son of Passion for Action-Miss Norman, steps up to the stakes ranks in Sunday’s $100,000 Bull Page at Woodbine. An E.P. Taylor turf test for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds, the Bull Page is part of a 10-race card that also includes the running of the filly companion Victorian Queen. Trained by Mike Mattine for Anika Murray, Ride for the Purse arrives at the seven-furlong event off a half-length win at six furlongs over the Woodbine main track. Under leading jockey Sahin Civaci, aboard again on Sunday, the gelding exchanged bumps with one rival and was forced in bumping with another rival before being squeezed back at the start. Seventh at the quarter and back to ninth through a half in :46.27, Ride for the Purse was angled eight-wide in upper stretch and able to get up in time in the race timed in 1:12.20. Ride for the Purse and jockey Sahin Civaci winning Race 9 on August 19, 2024 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) “The manner in which he did it, to overcome a slow start and then show that nice kick was impressive,” said Mattine. “We were very happy with how it all worked out.” Ride for the Purse worked over the Woodbine turf training track on September 6, a five-furlong breeze in 1:02.80. “He came out of the last race in good order, and he had that nice breeze to get him ready for the Bull Page,” said Mattine. “His exercise rider, Omar Dixon, who also is the groom, has done a phenomenal job with him. He has done a lot of great work with the horse, and they get along extremely well. That hard work has really paid off.” Omar Dixon and Ride for the Purse An $8,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2023 CTHS Canadian-Bred Yearling Sale, Ride for the Purse, bred by Ballycroy Training Centre, has been a welcome addition to the Mattine barn. “When we got him, he was very high energy. But once he got acclimated to his surroundings, he settled down and is a very happy horse.” Mattine’s father, the late trainer Tony Mattine, won the Bull Page in 1987 with Highland Ruckus. Trainer Ralph Biamonte has won four editions of the race, including three consecutive victories from 2011-13. Seven hopefuls will vie for top honours in the Victorian Queen. Muskoka Stakes winner Souper Supreme, trained by Mark Casse, will try the turf for the first time after three starts on the Woodbine main track. The daughter of Souper Speedy, bred by Ericka Rusnak, and owned by Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, is 2-1-0. Skylight Caper, second In the Muskoka, brings a mark of 1-1-1 from three starts – all on the main track – into her second stakes engagement. First race post time on Sunday is set for 1:10 p.m. Fans can wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and bet365.com. Field for the $100,000 Bull Page (Race 7) Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – Shadow Realm – Eswan Flores – Sid Attard 2 – Ride for the Purse – Sahin Civaci – Mike Mattine 3 – Kekoa – Kazushi Kimura – Catherine Day Phillips 4 – Awesome Rainbow – Leo Salles – Norm McKnight 5 – Dewolf – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard 6 – Unbridled Weather – Fraser Aebly – Angus Buntain 7 – Shinigami – Josh Scott – Patrick Dixon 8 – Magic Power – Justin Stein – John Mattine Field for the $100,000 Victorian Queen (Race 3) Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 1 – I Love to Win (S) – Emma-Jayne Wilson – William Tharrenos 2 – Ella It Is – Sofia Vives – Mark Casse 3 – Serious Green – Da-Sean Gaskin – Rodney Barrow 4 – Souper Supreme – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse 5 – Princess Rosina – David Moran – Pat Parente 6 – Misty Point (S) – Desean Bynoe – Michael De Paulo 7 – Skylight Caper – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard Chris Lomon, Woodbine Share This:Share
