by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, April 15, 2005… Having been pounded down to 1-9 at the windows, conditioner Bob McIntosh’s three-horse entry was under the microscope Friday evening at Woodbine, as the C$60,600 finale of the Youthful Pacing Series took center stage.

Stamping himself as a horse to keep an eye on in this year’s three-year-old pacing ranks, Stonebridge Regal, who started from the rail and was part of the entry, went gate-to-wire in 1:51.1, showing quick speed on both ends of the mile.

The bay colt tussled with Berts Casey and driver Brad Forward early and charged to the opening call in a flighty :25.3. Reinsman Jack Moiseyev didn’t exactly get a chance to gear his mount down in the second quarter either, as Hes A Nice Guy and driver Luc Ouellette made a bid for the front from fourth, hustling Stonebridge Regal to the half in :54.4. The pacesetter got a breather in the next panel though, as he tripped the third quarter timer in 1:24.2. That seemed to be all the five-timer winner needed, as he opened up lengths, apparently with ease, blazing home in :26.4 for a new lifetime mark.

“I think there was a little left there,” Moiseyev said afterwards. “I wasn’t asking him for too much.”

The sweep-minded I Zee, who had started from the outside 10-hole with Chris Christoforou at his lines, tipped off cover in the lane and scampered home for second, finishing three lengths in arrears.

“They’re both really nice colts and I had a tough time choosing between the two of them,” said Moiseyev, referring to his victorious mount and I Zee, who he had piloted in the series’ preliminary legs. “I just kind of like [Stonebridge Regal]. He can carry his speed a little more. [I Zee] is a little faster, but [Stonebridge Regal] carries it better, so I took a shot and went with him.”

Sub Woofer, a 75-1 longshot with Mario Baillargeon at his controls, raced widest of all through the stretch and came on to finish third, 4¼-lengths behind Stonebridge Regal.

The McIntosh entry returned $2.10 across the board, while Sub Woofer, who is conditioned by Ted MacDonnell, paid a handsome $9.80 to show.

Blueridge Dbang (driven by Paul MacDonell) and Village Joshua (piloted by Rick Zeron) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

The exactor returned $60.20 and the triactor paid $152.10.

“They both passed another test for me by passing this barrier,” a victorious McIntosh said afterward, referring to Stonebridge Regal and I Zee.

“If anyone tells you how good these colts are beforehand, they are lying,”

McIntosh stated. “Because until they get out there a get down to the half in :54 in a race like that, you don’t know. That separates the men from the boys and tonight [Stonebridge Regal] showed that.”

“He felt pretty comfortable; he was kind of taking a rest to tell you the truth,” Moiseyev said, referring to Stonebridge Regal at the half. “He was just plugging along with his ears up and when I asked him a little bit, he just exploded.”

Owned by a contingent consisting of McIntosh, Robert Kauffman, Angie Stiller and the Springtime Racing Stable, Stonebridge Regal now has a 5-2-0 record from seven starts this campaign.

“A lot of horses can go fast for a piece, but the great ones can carry their speed,” said McIntosh, who with tonight’s victory has now conditioned three Youthful winners in his distinguished career (Bootleggin, 1986, Tarpon Lobell, 1987). “[Stonebridge Regal] reminds me a lot of his sire, Artsplace, in a lot of ways. He’s not a magnificent trainer or anything, but when push comes to shove and he gets in a race he is very, very competitive.”

Stonebridge Regal is eligible to the Diplomat Series (formerly known as the Mohawk Pacing Series), which is scheduled to get underway next Friday, April 22 at Woodbine with its C$25,000 opening leg.