TORONTO, April 29, 2022 – Nine horses, including Larry Rivelli trainees One Timer and Nobals, will contest the $125,000 Woodstock Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine. The six-furlong Woodstock, for three-year-olds, has traditionally been a key prep race leading up to the Queen’s Plate, set for August 21, the first leg of the renowned Canadian Triple Crown series. Owned by Richard Ravin and Patricia’s Hope LLC, One Timer will look to make it two-for-two at Woodbine after winning last year’s $125,000 Victoria Stakes, taking the 5 ½-furlong main track event by 3 ¾ lengths in a time of 1:03.56. Rivelli is looking forward to seeing the son of Trappe Shot-Spanish Star test out the Toronto oval Tapeta once again. “He’s had success at Woodbine, he’s familiar with the course, and we’re happy to have him back there. He’s doing really, really well. I was expecting him to run well that day, and he certainly did that. I thought it was a really impressive effort. I really like the way he galloped out after the race. [E.T.] Baird thought he had another gear in him and he didn’t even ask him.” One Timer wasted little time in turning heads, romping to an emphatic 12 ½-length score in his career debut last June at Arlington Park. Under veteran rider E.T. Baird, the bay gelding, sent off at 8-5, broke last in the field of five before quickly assuming control, turning a head advantage at the half-mile marker into a five-length lead at the stretch call, and a double-digit triumph at the wire. After the Victoria victory, One Timer took his road show to Santa Anita, where the Kentucky-bred (St. Simon Place LLC) took the Speakeasy Stakes, winning the five-furlong turf event by three-quarters of a length in :55.45. One Timer, with jockey E.T. Baird, winning the Victoria Stakes in 2021 at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo) He closed out his two-year-old campaign with a ninth-place finish, albeit just two lengths back of the winner, in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar in November. The Woodstock will mark One Timer’s three-year-old debut. “I think going further is even better,” offered Rivelli. “I think he’s going to be a three-quarters, seven-eighths, even one-turn mile type of horse. He’s doing really well and it’s going to be exciting to see him get his campaign underway.” Nobals, a bay son of Noble Mission (GB)-Pearly Blue, is aiming for his third consecutive trip to the winner’s circle. Owned by Patricia’s Hope LLC, the gelding arrives at the Woodstock in peak form, taking the Turfway Prevue Stakes on January 8, followed by a victory in the Animal Kingdom Stakes on April 2, also at Turfway. Bred by Dr. John A. Chandler, Nobals has four wins and one second from seven starts. She won first time out, in a maiden special weight race at Presque Isle Downs last July. Six weeks later, she took the Arlington-Washington Futurity at Arlington Park. “If he runs, he will be tough,” said Rivelli. “He’s been training great.” The Woodstock is Race 7 on Sunday’s 10-race card. First post time is 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse app. FIELD FOR THE $125,000 WOODSTOCK POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER 1 – Nobals – Rafael Hernandez – Larry Rivelli 2 – One Timer – E.T. Baird – Larry Rivelli 3 – Unraptured – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield 4 – Ironstone – Ademar Santos – Willie Armata 5 – Victory Jet (S) – Patrick Husbands – Chetram Mohabir 6 – All in Sync – Shaun Bridgmohan – Steve Asmussen 7 – Determined Kingdom – Kazushi Kimura – Phil Schoenthal 8 – Doctor Jeff – Justin Stein – Rudy Rodriguez 9 – Silent Runner – David Moran – Mike Doyle The Victoria Stakes 2021 rewind: One Timer Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications, @WoodbineComms Share This:Share
