Munger urged Reload Raleigh (inside) to dig in as Silver Is Best started to noticeably close the gap. (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
TORONTO, Ont. – Reload Raleigh, under Ryan Munger, hung tough to produce his first stakes success in the $100,000 Frost King, Sunday at Woodbine.
The trio of Reload Raleigh, Imyourmedicineman and Big Bold and First slugged it out on the front end strides out the gate in the seven-furlong main track affair for Ontario-sired 2-year-old colts and geldings, with Big Bold and First grabbing the slight upper hand to secure a head advantage through an opening quarter in :22.52.
Reload Raleigh, who took control at the three-eighths and led by a half-length through a half in :45.45, shook clear of a rival at the three-sixteenths juncture, but found himself under inside pressure in early stretch from Souper Sporty, while Silver Is Best, who had come from a long way back, came off the rail and looked to track down the leader.
Munger urged Reload Raleigh to dig in as Silver Is Best started to noticeably close the gap with 70 yards to the finish but could not get by the game frontrunning son of Reload out of the Awesome Again mare Ice Mint, who posted a head score in 1:24.99. Souper Sporty was third, 6 ¾ lengths ahead of Auntie’s Bambino.
“I thought he would [hold on],” said Munger, who is having an outstanding Woodbine campaign. “I’ll be honest – he felt like he was looking for company. From the top of the lane, he was running on the wrong lead, he was running towards the rail – he just needed company to join him. Once that horse (Silver Is Best) joined him, he was probably going to fight on again.
“You know in high school, you get the jock, the good-looking sportsman, but damn, he’s not smart in class – that is him,” added Munger.
Minshall, who is also having a fruitful season, watched Reload Raleigh finish a head-scratching eighth in his career bow, a 5 ½-furlong sprint over the Woodbine main track on July 6.
One race later, the gelding broke his maiden after a half-length win at six furlongs over the main track on September 14.
“He’s learning,” said Minshall. “He’s been a slow learner. He’s got the body, he’s a big, physical horse, but it has taken time to get his focus and get him together. Between the first and second race, we kind of had to regroup with him. He just wasn’t focused. He ran a good race second time, and we were just kind of waiting for this race. He had a couple nice breezes, and I thought he would run well here today.”
Owned by Kevin Drew and bred by Jon Hyka, the chestnut was a $14,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2024 CTHS Ontario Premier Yearling Sale
Reload Raleigh, the slight 7-2 choice, paid $9.10 for the win.
