Horse Racing Roundup : Regal Intention Wins Queen’s Plate

Regal Intention, considered the second-best 3-year-old colt in Sam-Son Farm’s powerful stable, gained a 3-length victory over stablemate Regal Classic in Sunday’s $332,495 Queen’s Plate at Woodbine in Toronto.

Ridden by Jack Lauzon, Regal Intention stalked the pace throughout the 1-mile race, made his move on the far turn, then pulled away in the stretch to finally give owner Ernie Samuel and trainer Jim Day their first victory in the Queen’s Plate.

Samuel had not sent a winner to the gate in 12 previous editions of the Queen’s Plate, all but one with Day as his trainer.

This time, Regal Intention and Regal Classic went off as the overwhelming 1-2 favorite in betting in front of more than 20,000.

Regal Classic, ridden by Sandy Hawley, finished 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Granacus, with Grey Skelly, the only filly in the 11-horse field, finishing fourth.

The entry paid $3.10, $3 and $2.10. Granacus, ridden by Jacinto Vasquez, paid $2.50 to show.

Regal Distance was clocked in 2:06 1/5, well off the track record of 2:01 1/5 and the stakes record of 2:02, set by Victoria Park in 1960 and equalled by Regal Embrace in 1978.

It was the 6th victory in 7 starts this season for Regal Intention, a son of Vice Regent, and the 9th victory in 15 lifetime races.

At Belmont Park in New York, Sunshine Forever, responding to vigorous right-handed whipping by Angel Cordero Jr., moved away in the final furlong to score a 1 3/4-length victory in the $120,000 Lexington Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Hodges Bay, ridden by Jerry Bailey, was second, a head in front of Ask Not, ridden by Randy Romero.

Sunshine Forever, a colt by Roberto out of Outward Sunshine, won his third straight race and fifth in six starts this year. He went 1 miles on the turf course in 2:03 to earn $72,000 for Darby Dan Farm. Sent off as the odds-on favorite, the winner returned $3.20, $2.80 and $2.20.