Despite a stumble and a bump, Prospective makes it through in the Victoria Park Stakes
John C. Oxley’s 3-year-old colt, Prospective made his fourth start over the Woodbine’s poly track on 10 June, 2012, and even a stumble at the start didn’t stop the colt from winning the $149,314 Victoria Park Stakes against 3 other 3-year-old colts over a distance of 1 1/8 miles.
Sent as the 2 to 5 favourite in the Victoria Park Stakes, the Mark E. Casse trained won for the first time since winning the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby at about 1 1/16 miles, where he defeated Golden Ticket in second and Cozzetti in third, with the winning time of 1 minute and 43.35 seconds at Tampa Bay Downs on 10 March, 2012.
Ridden by Jockey Luis Contreras for the 8th time running, Prospective settled off the pace following a bad break, but quickly gathered himself to track the pace of, Holiday Promise, who was ambling along, as he ran down the opening quarter mile in 24.54 seconds, half mile in 48.38 seconds and reached the six furlong marker in 1 minute and 13.31 seconds.
“When they came out of the gate, and he stumbled so hard, I said, ‘Oh no, not again,'" the trainer said. “But he got it done."
Even after stumbling at the gate, Prospective didn’t have a clear run in the Victoria Park Stakes, as he bumped with the eventual second place finisher, Patrioticandproud, but drew clear in the mid stretch to take the race in 1 minute and 51.08 second , 1 ¾ lengths clear of the runner up.
"My horse stumbled a little bit coming out of the gate, but after that he relaxed pretty good," said Contreras.
It was a welcome victory for Prospective, who was coming off an 18th place finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, and before he finished 6th in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes to winner, Dullahan.
Casse has many options lined up for the son of Malibu Moon.
"He’s had a pretty good campaign," said Casse. "We’ll talk to Mr. Oxley. I’m not sure that synthetic is his favourite. He likes dirt. So we may travel out of the country for his next one (start).”
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