Reigning Canada champion Dresden Row leads Seagram Cup
Multiple graded stakes victor and Sovereign Award winner Dresden Row faces seven rivals in Saturday’s Grade 3, US$108,745 Seagram Cup (G3) at Woodbine.
The 1 1/16-mile main-track event, for 3-year-olds and up, marks the second start of the season for Dresden Row, who was crowned Canada’s champion 3-year-old male of 2024.
Click here for Woodbine entries and results.
“He’s a very nice horse,” said trainer Lorne Richards, who trains the colt for Keith Johns’ True North Stable and Jeffry Bloom's Bloom Racing Stable. “It was nice to see him recognized and you are certainly happy for the owners as well.”
ODresden Row has finished in the top three on every occasion, crafting a 11: 5-3-3 mark to go along with US$330,558 in purse earnings.
After a debut second over six furlongs on the E.P. Taylor course in October 2023 and a third, only a head back of the winner in a 6 1/2-furlong test over the main track two weeks later, Dresden Row broke his maiden courtesy of a 1 1/4-length score at 1 1/16 miles over the same surface on November 5.
He closed out his rookie campaign with another sharp performance, a 3 1/4-length triumph at 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track.
His first stakes success came in the Durham Cup (G3) on Sept. 28. One race later, he put on another impressive display, taking the Ontario Derby (G3).
After a second in the Autumn Stakes (G2) last November, Dresden Row traveled to Turfway Park in December and finished second, a head behind the winner, Paros, in the Prairie Bayou Stakes.
“He ran very well,” said Richards. “With a little better trip, he probably gets there. He kind of got squeezed off on the first turn, shuffled back, down on the inside, eating track the whole way, but he came running at the end. A couple more jumps and I think he gets there.
“They set a track record (1:42.22), so it was a pretty salty dash.”
Dresden Row’s 4-year-old debut, on June 28 at Woodbine, came in the Highlander (G3). He finished third in the six-furlong E.P. Taylor turf event.
“He was running strong at the end,” said Richards. “The turf was listed as good – I don’t think he cares for turf that has that type of give to it – and I don’t think the distance is what he prefers. It was a big ask, but I thought he ran a good one. I’d like to run him on the inner turf one day, so hopefully, we can get there.”
Bred in Kentucky by TCR Ranch, Dresden Row was a US$70,000 purchase at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Kelsey Mayhew-Munger, who handles assistant trainer duties, is also the groom.
“One of the things I appreciate most about working with Dresden Row is his professionalism and genuine love for the job,” said Mayhew-Munger. “Watching him race, what stands out is his determination and incredible versatility. You know that when he steps onto the track, he’s going to give everything he’s got. It’s a real privilege being able to work with a horse like him.”
First post for Saturday’s card is 1:05 p.m. EDT.