Top Woodbine jockey Da Silva may have his Queen's Plate contender

Eurico Rosa Da Silva, a six-time Sovereign Award winner and Woodbine’s five-time leading rider, goes for an added-money double this Saturday at the Toronto oval when he teams with Skywire in the Grade 3, $125,000 Marine Stakes, and Pink Lloyd in the $125,000 Greenwood Stakes.

The first Woodbine jockey to achieve 200 wins or more in four consecutive meets, Da Silva, off to another strong campaign in 2019, will look to add more accolades and stakes scores to an already impressive list of achievements.

A lifetime winner of 2,124 races, Da Silva will partner Skywire in the Marine, a 1 1/16-mile prep for next month’s Queen’s Plate (the Queen’s Plate Festival is set for June 28-29).

“He’s very talented and a very strong horse,” said Da Silva. “He’s got a very good mind too.”

The son of Afleet Alex, trained by Mark Casse and owned by Gary Barber and Lou Tucci, heads into the Tapeta tilt off a sensational effort in the Wando Stakes on April 28 at Woodbine.

Sent postward at 4-5, Skywire lived up to his favoritism, drawing off for a 2 ½-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile event. It was the second win in three races this year for the colt bred by the late Bill Graham.

“He was just by himself there [in the stretch],” said Da Silva, who won all six races he contested that day. “I’m pretty sure if another horse came, he would have another gear. I know he got a little green at the end, but he’s learning and this horse has a lot to show.”

Da Silva, who celebrated his first Woodbine win on May 20, 2004, believes Skywire, who broke his maiden last year in his career bow, a six-furlong race over the Woodbine main track, will do precisely that in the Marine.

“Definitely,” said the two-time Plate winner (2009, Eye of the Leopard; 2010, Big Red Mike). “I think he’s going to run a good race. He can show what’s he got and it’s an opportunity for him to get more experience as well. He also has good people behind him and that makes a lot of difference.”

Complementing the Marine, eight horses, including Pink Lloyd, Canada’s 2017 Horse of the Year and reigning Male Sprinter champ, will travel six panels on the Tapeta in the $125,000 Greenwood Stakes.

The 7-year-old Robert Tiller trainee zips into the race for Ontario-breds, 3 years old and up, off a sensational performance in the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier Stakes on May 4.

“I was in his stall the other day and I just looked at him… I just love this horse so much,” Da Silva said. “I told the groom that I can’t express how much love I have for this horse. I think it’s also about respect. I have lots of respect for him. He doesn’t owe anyone, me included, anything at all. I want to ride him until the day he retires or the day I retire. Every time he goes out there, he just tries so hard for all of us.”

Bred in Ontario by John Carey, the millionaire son of Old Forester boasts 17 career wins from 22 starts.

Owned by Entourage Stable, Pink Lloyd won 11 consecutive races, all stakes, from April 2017 to June 2018.

“It’s a special bond I have with him,” said Da Silva. “He’s just a very special horse.”

Last year, O’Kratos, with Da Silva aboard, took the Marine in a time of 1:43.90, paying $5.90 for the win.

The Marine is Race 3 on Saturday’s 10-race card and the Greenwood is Race 9. First post time is 1:05 p.m.

FIELD FOR THE $125,000 GRADE 3 MARINE STAKES

POST - HORSE - JOCKEY - TRAINER

1 – Global Access – Patrick Husbands – Michael Trombetta 

2 – Skywire – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Mark Casse 

3 – Dabo – Rafael Hernandez – Dale Romans

4 – Hoffa’s Union – Jerome Lermyte – Mark Casse

5 – Lyrical Note – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Sid Attard

FIELD FOR THE $125,000 GREENWOOD STAKES

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1 – Sumerian Bell – Davy Moran – Harold Ladoucer

2 – Marten Lake – Kazushi Kimura – Martin Drexler

3 – Call Me Wally – Jesse Campbell – Paul Buttigieg

4 – Pink Lloyd – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Robert Tiller

5 – Eskiminzin – Jerome Lermyte – Carlos Grant

6 – Sable Island – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Gord Colbourne

7 – Blueblood – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

8 – Circle of Friends – Rafael Hernandez – Robert Tiller