Better to say 'Never' on Woodbine turf!
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Never Retreat tossed her name into the Canadian Horse of the Year ring with her second graded stakes victory in as many Woodbine starts, taking the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes in emphatic fashion under Julien Leparoux.
Earlier this year, the Team Block mare captured the Grade 2 Dance Smartly by 1 ¼ lengths over Bay to Bay, who also raced in the Canadian but failed to hit the board.
The Chris Block trainee Never Retreat stalked the pace from second at odds of 6-1 before taking over from pacesetter Wooly Bear late on the turn. She opened up in the stretch and held off fast-closing longshot Perfect Shirl. Stars to Shine, a Mark Frostad trainee, was third.
Among the runners in the field was last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf heroine Shared Account.
Never Retreat, a six-year-old daughter of Smart Strike is now 10-for-30 lifetime with over $1.8 million in earnings.
The 1 1/8-mile Canadian was her fourth graded stakes win of 2011, including the Grade 3 Honey Fox and Grade 2 Jenny Wiley.
Never Retreat returned $15.50.
Still to come, the $500,000 Northern Dancer and the $1 million Woodbine Mile.
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