ROUNDUP : Woodbine Race Won by Izvestia

Izvestia became the second gray colt from Kinghaven Farms to win the Queen’s Plate in as many years with a record-setting 13-length victory at Woodbine in Toronto Sunday.

Don Seymour rode With Approval to victory last year and he was on Izvestia as the 3-year-old colt covered 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 4/5 to better the stakes record of 2:02 set by Victoria Park in 1960 and matched by Regal Embrace in 1978.

Izvestia stayed close behind the front-runners for the first half of the race, even though he was five-wide and in sixth place around the clubhouse turn.

He gradually inched his way forward, then surged past the leaders near the three-eighths pole.

A jubilant Seymour waved his stick as Izvestia finished one-fifth of a second off the track record.

The favored Izvestia paid $3.20, $2.50 and $2.20.

Very Formal, ridden by Sandy Hawley, was second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Iskandar Elakbar, and returned $3.50 and $2.90. Iskandar Elakbar, ridden by Richard Migliore, returned $3.10.

Secret ‘N Classy, who ran coupled with Very Formal, was fourth and was followed by Key Timing, Bundle Bits, the only filly in the race and a stablemate of Izvestia’s, Roll The Dice, Cozzene’s Prince, Ordinary Superstar, Halo’s Honey, Truth Squad, French King and King Riviera.

The victory in the $392,000 race was worth $235,000, increasing Izvestia’s career earnings to $469,347.

The Queen’s Plate is the first leg of Canada’s Triple Crown, won for the first time in 26 years last year when With Approval did it. The other legs are the $200,000-plus Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie, Ontario, July 29 and the $300,000-plus Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine Aug. 19.

At Belmont Park Saturday, With Approval set a track record of 2:12 1/5 for 1 3/8 miles on turf in winning the Tidal Handicap.

Charon, ridden by Craig Perret, took the lead with a half-mile left and romped to a nine-length victory in the $287,500 Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont.

Crowned was second, with Paper Money another 5 1/4 lengths back. Paper Money’s Wayne Lukas-trained stablemate, Kentucky Oaks winner Seaside Attraction, was sixth in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies.

Perret swept Belmont’s weekend stakes. He also rode With Approval on Saturday.

Charon covered the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02 3/5.

The victory was the fourth in six starts for Charon this year to go with two second-place finishes behind Go for Wand in Keeneland’s Ashland and Belmont’s Mother Goose.

Charon earned $172,500 for owner Stanley Ersoff and returned $2.60, $2.40 and $2.10. Crowned paid $5.20 and $2.10 and Paper Money returned $2.10.

Double Bunctious won the $81,650 Davona Dale Handicap at Laurel Race Course after Noblest Heart was disqualified.

Noblest Heart, a daughter of 1983 Preakness winner Deputed Testamony, swept past Double Bunctious midway around the final turn. Double Bunctious’ jockey, Edgar Prado, had to stand up and check his mount along the rail when Noblest Heart passed.

Noblest Heart, ridden by Joe Rocco, opened a three-length lead early in the stretch, but barely held off Double Bunctious by a head in 1:50 4/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Double Bunctious earned $48,990 for owner Dan D. Westland and paid $6.60.

Dispersal went to the lead from the start and easily won the $46,485 Tolomeo Handicap at Arlington International Racecourse.

Only three opponents faced Dispersal in the 1 1/8-mile handicap for older horses.

Remmington’s Pride finished second, six lengths behind the winner and seven lengths in front of Old Stories.

The final time of 1:48.1 was two seconds slower than the track record set by Spectacular Bid in 1980.

Because of the small field, there was no place or show wagering. Dispersal returned $2.60 to win.