Riker, allowed an easy lead as the favorite here, proved he could see out two turns while upping his unbeaten record to four. Well clear early through splits of :24.18 and :48.92, the dark bay was still traveling powerfully leaving the home turn as English invader Kasseopia ratcheted up the pressure. Kept to task by Jesse Campbell, Riker found another gear to maintain his advantage despite bobbing and weaving a bit.
“I wanted to be in front and it worked out that way,” said Campbell. “He was very relaxed going into the first turn and at about seven-eighths he grabbed me pretty good. It wasn't rank, he just surprised me a bit…he was ready to run today,” said Campbell.
A narrow debut winner going five furlongs here July 5, Riker belied 8-1 odds 20 days later to annex the Colin S. He was last seen coming through at odds-on in the local seven-furlong Swynford S. Sept. 5.
Trainer Nick Gonzalez said Riker will point for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Oct. 31. “That will be our plan now. We'll see how he comes out of the race, but we're dreaming the dream.” Of how his charge saw out the distance, the conditioner added, “I was really happy. Jesse and I weren't surprised. He's always galloped out well after his races. He worked out in [:59.80 Sept. 24] and he galloped out very strong after that. He's always showed lots of stamina in the morning. We give him lots of two-mile gallops and he takes it like it's nothing. He's growing from a boy to a man.”
Riker's dam is a half to GI Ashland S. heroine Lunar Spook (Silver Ghost).
Sunday, Woodbine
GREY S.-GIII, C$150,000, WO, 10-4, 2yo, 1 1/16m (AWT), 1:44.31, ft.
1–@RIKER, 122, c, 2, by Include
1st Dam: Desviacion, by Unreal Zeal
2nd Dam: Rafael Luna, by Idle Minds
3rd Dam: New Zion Miss, by Green Hornet
($30,000 RNA Ylg '14 KEESEP; $60,000 2yo '15
OBSAPR). O-Tucci Stables; B-Turner Breeders (KY);
T-Nicholas Gonzalez; J-Jesse M. Campbell.
C$90,000. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0, $209,049. *1/2
to Cashel Castle (Silver Ghost), GSW, $239,016.
Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
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2–Kasseopia (GB), 115, c, 2, Showcasing (GB)–Dream
Again (GB), by Medicean (GB). (12,500gns Wlg '13
TATFOA; £0 RNA Ylg '14 DNPRM; 40,000gns 2yo
'15 TATBRE). O-Team Valor International & Gary
Barber; B-Cheveley Park Stud Ltd (GB); T-Charlie
Fellowes. C$30,000.
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3–Tizzarunner, 118, c, 2, Tizway–Piano Bar, by Carson
City. ($95,000 Ylg '14 EASSEP; $325,000 2yo '15
OBSMAR). O-John C. Oxley; B-Robert T. Manfuso
(MD); T-Mark E. Casse. C$16,500.
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Margins: 1HF, 1HF, 3 3/4. Odds: 1.00, 2.80, 2.55.
Also Ran: Van Damme, Ruck. Scratched: Ultraflame.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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