Inaugural Turf Endurance Series concludes Sunday at Woodbine

Although Tesseron will have secured Woodbine’s inaugural Turf Endurance Series title by way of points when he leaves the gate on Sunday, the 2-1/4 mile event will prove to be a stern test as he faces series rival Sine Metu and marathon specialist Major Production.

Following a third-place finish and a pair of victories in the opening rounds of the innovative points-based series that expands in distance with each leg contested over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Tesseron has accumulated 25 points to top the standings for trainer Harold Ladouceur and owner Kirk Sutherland. Emma-Jayne Wilson will be back aboard the seven-year-old Tapit gelding looking to wrap up the series title which comes with a $15,000 bonus as well as a trophy honouring the accomplishment.

With runner-up efforts in the 1-1/2 and 1-5/8 mile middle legs, Sine Metu has pushed his point total to 15 chasing Tesseron to the finish line. Debra Rombis’ six-year-old Rebellion gelding will look to topple the series leader in Sunday’s marathon with Simon Husbands back aboard, even though he would fall just shy of the top spot on the leaderboard with a winning performance as Tesseron will earn at least one point for leaving the gate.

Stephen Philpott’s Major Production returns to Woodbine following two impressive performances in the Presque Isle Downs Distance Series in which he just missed by a head at 2-1/8 miles and then defeated endurance specialist Vitium last time out on October 5 going 2-1/4 miles on the synthetic track.

“He’s a typical marathon horse,” said Philpott. “He doesn’t get going until a mile and a half. Even down there, he beat the top horse Vitium that won the series down there in Presque Isle last year.”

While Major Production finished seventh in the 1-1/2 mile Woodbine series leg on August 7, he has not yet had the opportunity to compete on turf beyond that distance.

“He’s never gone this distance on the turf,” noted Philpott. “As he is, you don’t know how good he is on the turf this far.”

Woodbine's meet-leading jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva will pick up the mount on Major Production.

The field also includes Runaway Brenda, Cosmic Charlie and Unikat.

The $45,000 final of the Woodbine Turf Endurance Series is scheduled as race six on Sunday’s program, which begins at 1 p.m.

Woodbine Turf Endurance Series Final

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1. Runaway Brenda – Aimee Auger – Margaret Denney

2. Cosmic Charlie – Daisuke Fukumoto – W V Armata

3. Major Production – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Steve Philpott

4. Tesseron – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Harold Ladouceur

5. Unikat – David Moran – John Mattine

6. Sine Metu – Simon Husbands – Debra Rombis

Source: Woodbine Communications Office