Duke of Love Race Recap

Duke of Love ended his run in the Canadian Triple Crown yesterday with a sixth-place finish in the Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine. He originally came home under the wire in 7th in the nine-horse field but was elevated to sixth with the disqualification of Dancin in Da’Nile, the fourth-place finisher who was placed seventh for interference with your colt at the quarter pole.

Duke’s team had been hoping that the 3-year-old son of Cupid would pull off a win in the 1 1/2-mile turf race, which was won by Sir for Sure, to earn his second victory in the series, after his beautiful win in the Prince of Wales of Stakes at Fort Erie last month, which followed his 8th-place finish in the first leg, the Queen’s Plate in June. Duke, who was ridden by Justin Stein, was prominent in the early running of the Breeders’ Stakes while contesting the pace with Gaston through a mile run in 1:39.04, but he didn’t pack a punch in the stretch. Trainer Josie Carroll attributed the performance more to him getting weary from his early efforts rather than him not liking the turf. She said that the bumping with Dancin in Da’Nile probably cost him a better placing.

“I think he would have finished up a little bit better had the 7 not come over and caused all the bumping,” she said. “You know, when a horse is starting to get tired and gets bumped around, it certainly takes a lot away from his run.”

Nonetheless, it was exciting for Duke’s partners to have him participate in all three legs of the Triple Crown and enjoy the good times associated with each of those races whether they joined us onsite or cheered from home. It’s really a testament to the horse’s soundness and durability, and Josie’s great management of him, that he competed in all three of those prestigious races.

We’re happy to report that Duke came out of yesterday’s race well. The Breeders’ Stakes marked his seventh start this year during a campaign that began in early May, so he is due for some much-deserved rest and relaxation and we’ve made plans for him to do exactly that at Wavertree Farm in Ocala, Fl. We look forward to seeing Duke run as a 4-year-old and will certainly update his partners during his respite at Wavertree.

You can view yesterday’s race here.