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Eye of the Leopard wins thrilling Queen’s Plate

Posted: Sunday, June 21, 2009 5:53 PM

EYE OF THE LEOPARD (center, red blinkers)

Michael Burns photo

by Mike Curry

The Sam-Son Farm legacy lives on.

Eye of the Leopard steadily wore down front-running Mr. Foricos Two U in the stretch to give owner-breeder Sam-Son Farm its fifth Queen’s Plate Stakes winner on Sunday at Woodbine (video).

The lightly raced A. P. Indy colt was sent off as the 2.35-to-1 favorite off a victory in the Plate Trial Stakes on May 31 at Woodbine and he did not disappoint in the 150th edition of the Queen's Plate. Positioned in stalking position early by jockey Eurico Da Silva, Eye of the Leopard needed only to collar Mr. Foricos Two U in the stretch and he reeled in that foe with a sustained, grinding bid from the outside to win by a neck.

Eye of the Leopard completed 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.84 on the synthetic Polytrack surface to give legendary Canadian breeder Sam-Son Farm its fifth victory in the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Sam-Son Farm, founded by the late Ernie and Elizabeth “Liza” Samuel, previously won the Queen’s Plate with Regal Intention (1988), Dance Smartly (‘91), Scatter the Gold (2000), and Dancethruthedawn (‘01).

Sam-Son has amassed nine Sovereign Awards as outstanding Canadian owner and seven Sovereign Awards as outstanding Canadian breeder, including five straight from 2000 to ’04. Liza Samuel died in March 2008 and Ernie Samuel died in 2000. Their daughter Tammy Samuel-Balaz died in January 2008, and the farm is now guided by the couple’s other children, Kim and Mark, and Tammy’s husband, Rick Balaz.

"We have been waiting for this day for a long time," Mark Samuel said. "We have had some tragic things happen to our family over the last year, and we had some spirits up above cheering that horse [Eye of the Leopard] home today. It is a special day for the family and we are going to savor this for a long time."

Trained by Mark Frostad, Eye of the Leopard improved to three wins in four starts and boosted his earnings to $650,678. He is out of 2004 Canadian champion three-year-old filly Eye of the Sphynx, by Smart Strike.

Mr. Foricos Two U, who entered off an allowance win on May 27 at Woodbine, dueled with Reservoir through fractions of :24.05, :48.11, and 1:12.93 through six furlongs. Eye of the Leopard was rated in third then fourth by Da Silva alongside Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser winner Milwaukee Appeal.

Mr. Foricos Two U spurted away approaching the stretch, but Da Silva asked Eye of the Leopard to accelerate and he responded. Milwaukee Appeal and Woodbine Oaks runner-up Tasty Temptation unfurled their bids in the stretch.

Eye of the Leopard closed steadily on the pacesetter while Milwaukee Appeal rallied from between the top two, but Eye of the Leopard would not be denied in the final strides. Mr. Foricos Two U held off Milwaukee Appeal by a head.

The Canadian Triple Crown continues with the Prince of Wales Stakes on July 12 at Fort Erie and concludes with the Breeders’ Stakes on August 2 at Woodbine.

After finishing second in each of his three starts last year, Smart Enough seems to have regained the winning touch. The six-year-old Horse Chestnut (SAf) gelding controlled the pace in the $184,834 Highlander Stakes (Can-G3) on the Queen’s Plate undercard and powered to a two-length win (video).

Smart Enough, who also won the six-furlong Highlander in 2007, posted his second straight stakes win and improved to two wins and one third in three starts this year for trainer John Fisher and owner Edith Dixon.

Smart Enough entered the Highlander off a 1 3/4-length score in the Wolf Hill Stakes on May 30 at Monmouth Park and was never seriously threatened in the Highlander after taking control early under Jeremy Rose. He opened a clear lead through an opening quarter in :22.32, led by two lengths after a half-mile in :44.73, and spurted away to a commanding advantage in early stretch. He completed six furlongs in 1:08.26 on turf rated as good.

“Doc Fisher did a great job getting him ready. I just held on for a while," Rose said. "A horse that relaxes the first part usually has something to finish with. He relaxed really well off the bit."

Field Commission edged 2.25-to-1 favorite Heros Reward by a neck for second.

Out of the multiple stakes-winning Polish Numbers mare Quick ‘n Smart, Smart Enough improved to 12 wins in 21 starts and boosted his bankroll to $867,317.

Also on the Queen’s Plate card, Musketier (Ger) halted a seven-race winless stretch and nailed down his first win in North America with a four-length score in the $135,520 Singspiel Stakes (Can-G3) (video).

The seven-year-old Acatenango horse pressed 7-to-5 favorite Mission Approved from second under Jono Jones and powered past that foe near the top of the stretch. Musketier steadily accelerated clear to post a comfortable win, completing 1 1/2 miles on turf in 2:27.41.

A Group 3 winner and former classic starter in France, Johanna Louise Glen-Teven’s Musketier finished second in April in the Fifth Third Elkhorn Stakes (G2) at Keeneland Race Course. Out of the winning Linamix mare Myth and Reality, he improved to six wins in 30 career starts and boosted his earnings to $392,430. 

“He’s been sitting on a winning race for a little while,” winning trainer Roger Attfield said. “He’s trained really, really well coming into this race.”

Mission Approved held off Cobotown Ron by three-quarters of a length for second.

For Equibase charts, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor

Queen’s Plate winners