John Ross watched Aheadbyacentury come close in the first two jewels of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.

With his horseB次元官网网址檚 dominant rival skipping the BreedersB次元官网网址� Stakes, the veteran trainer is hoping their time as bridesmaids is finally up.

After finishing second to standout filly Wonder Gadot in both the QueenB次元官网网址檚 Plate and the Prince of Wales Stakes, Aheadbyacentury is the early 5/2 favourite for SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 $400,000 gallop over 1 1/2 miles on Woodbine RacetrackB次元官网网址檚 turf course.

B次元官网网址淗e keeps getting better and better,B次元官网网址� Ross said. B次元官网网址淚 like the way weB次元官网网址檙e going.B次元官网网址�

The consistent Aheadbyacentury, with two seconds and two thirds in five starts in 2018, has $513,800 in career earnings, including $311,250 this year thanks in large part to his Triple Crown performances.

A colt named after the Tragically Hip song that closed the iconic Canadian bandB次元官网网址檚 final concert in 2016, the three-year-old son of Midnight Lute has a pair of wins, two second-place finishes and three third-place showings in nine-career races.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 the only horse thatB次元官网网址檚 been in all three legs of this Triple Crown,B次元官网网址� said Ross, who co-owns Aheadbyacentury with Jack of Hearts Racing. B次元官网网址滱 lot of horses donB次元官网网址檛 go the whole way like this.B次元官网网址�

Instead of trying to secure the BreedersB次元官网网址� for the first Canadian Triple Crown since 2003 when Wando accomplished the feat, Wonder Gadot is instead preparing to run in the more lucrative Grade 1 Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Aug. 25 against a full field of male horses.

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Aheadbyacentury and jockey Luis Contreras finished 4 3/4 lengths behind Wonder Gadot in the 1 1/4-mile QueenB次元官网网址檚 Plate on WoodbineB次元官网网址檚 synthetic track on June 30. The pair were then beaten by 5 3/4 lengths in muddy conditions on dirt at the 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales in Fort Erie, Ont., on July 24.

Ross said he understands the decision not to race Wonder Gadot in the 128th running of the BreedersB次元官网网址� Stakes, but would have welcomed getting another crack at the filly that has five victories in 13 career starts for more than $1.4 million in earnings.

B次元官网网址淲e would have accepted the challenge,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漈he case is she went somewhere else.B次元官网网址�

While the distance of the 1 1/2-mile BreedersB次元官网网址� Stakes B次元官网网址� the longest of the three Triple Crown races B次元官网网址� isnB次元官网网址檛 a concern for Ross, the fact Aheadbyacentury has never run on grass in competition leaves a big unknown heading into Saturday.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 just some things in the back of your mind,B次元官网网址� the trainer said. B次元官网网址漎ou hope that he likes turf.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a concern when youB次元官网网址檙e switching courses.B次元官网网址�

Hot Cash, a filly trained by Michael Doyle, sits as the early second pick for Saturday at 7/2, followed by Graham MotionB次元官网网址檚 Say the Word (3/1) and Mark CasseB次元官网网址檚 Neepawa (6/1).

A newcomer to the Triple Crown, Hot Cash won the Maiden Special Weight at Woodbine over 1 1/16 miles on July 27, Say the Word was sixth in the QueenB次元官网网址檚 Plate, and Neepawa finished third in the 1 1/8-mile Toronto Cup three weeks ago.

Casse, who also trains Wonder Gadot, was bullish on Neepawa heading into the QueenB次元官网网址檚 Plate as a 15/1 longshot before having to settle for 10th.

B次元官网网址淗e ran off early on,B次元官网网址� said Casse, who didnB次元官网网址檛 enter the colt in the Prince of Wales. B次元官网网址滺e wasnB次元官网网址檛 supposed to be that close to the pace and I think the pace was too hot. It took a toll on him.B次元官网网址�

Neepawa has run six times this year, wracking up a win and two third-place finishes for $59,482 in earnings.

The son of Scat Daddy has been in the money in three of his seven starts on turf, including his only career victory back in January. All told, Neepawa has run 10 career races, grabbing that win, a second and three third-place finishes for $117,614 in earnings.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 a horse that one of these days weB次元官网网址檙e going to get lucky with,B次元官网网址� Casse. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l need him to relax and if we get him to do that he wonB次元官网网址檛 have a problem.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a feeling Ross shares when it comes to Aheadbyacentury B次元官网网址� a horse that he feels, quite frankly, is due.

B次元官网网址淗e has the temperament,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址滺eB次元官网网址檚 a cool horse and heB次元官网网址檚 a tough horse. He takes everything well.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e very fortunate.B次元官网网址�

The field, with post, horse, jockey and odds, includes: 1) Ginger Sky (Emma-Jayne Wilson, 12/1); 2) Eskiminzin (Sheena Ryan, 20/1); 3) Absolution (Alan Garcia, 20/1); 4) Real Dude (Gary Boulanger, 8/1); 5) Aheadbyacentury (Luis Contreras, 5/2); 6) Say the Word (Rafael Hernandez, 3/1); 7) Neepawa (Jerome Lermyte, 6/1); 8) Flight Deck (David Moran, 10/1); 9) Hot Cash (Eurico Rosa da Silva, 7/2).

B次元官网网址� With files from Canadian Press reporter Dan Ralph

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

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