Ontario-Bred Wavell Avenue Upsets Filly & Mare Sprint

Wavell Avenue, bred in Ontario by Eugene Melnyk; Woodbine’s leading trainer Mark Casse; and J. Paul Reddam's Nyquist were among the winners in Saturday’s lucrative Breeders’ Cup card at Keeneland Racecourse, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Wavell Avenue, a four-year-old daughter of Harlington out of the Silver Deputy mare Lucas Street, upset the Grade 1 $1-million Filly and Mare Sprint at odds of 10-1 with a furious rally, travelling from 11th position in a field of 14, to reel in the pacesetting La Verdad for a 1 ¾-length score in the seven furlong event. Wavell Avenue stopped the clock in 1:22.39.

“I had a perfect trip. It was a very good race. She always tries hard,” said winning jockey Joel Rosario. “We were always able to get a good position even when we were back far. I was comfortable because they were going fast up front. She gave me a big kick down the lane. It’s great to win a great race like this.”

Trained by Chad Brown, the victory marked the fourth win of the season for the dark bay and provided her first stakes score on the world’s biggest stage. Canadian-bred Judy the Beauty, defending champion of the Filly and Mare Sprint, finished fifth.

Casse enjoyed an incredible start to the lucrative weekend of racing, which kicked off on Friday afternoon, winning his first ever Breeders’ Cup event when Catch a Glimpse captured the Grade 1 $1-million Juvenile Fillies Turf.  

A seven-time Sovereign Award winner as Canada's outstanding trainer, Casse also sent out Airoforce (2nd) and Conquest Daddyo (4th) for a strong showing in the Juvenile Turf.

On Saturday, Casse saddled Robert E. Masterson’s Tepin in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and the four-year-old Bernstein filly, bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, flew to a two-length victory joining a trio of legendary females who have accomplished winning the turf Mile, including Goldikova (2008-2010), Miesque (1988-89) and Royal Heroine (1984) since the race’s inaugural running in 1984.

“To be in the same company with Goldikova, Miesque and Royal Heroine, beating the boys in the Mile, I'm not sure I have the words. Am I dreaming? She just continues to amaze me,” said Casse. “I'm still in shock (at how easily she won and by how many lengths) so I'll have to watch the race a few more times, and then I'll be even more surprised. I can't put it into words what great work Norman (Mark’s son and assistant trainer) did with this horse. It's special. He worked really hard with her. It's hard to describe (my emotions).”

Irish-bred Mondialiste, who captured the Ricoh Woodbine Mile in September, rallied impressively for second-money in the Mile, 1 ½-lengths in front of Kentucky-bred Grand Arch who is based at Woodbine with trainer Brian Lynch.

Nyquist, trained by Doug O’Neill, remained undefeated through five starts with a ½-length score in the Grade 1 $2-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile for owner Reddam Racing LLC, nom de course of Windsor, Ontario native John Paul Reddam.

Sent to post at odds of 9-2, Nyquist settled in mid-pack in the early running of the 1 1/16-miles tilt under jockey Mario Gutierrez before taking command at the top of the lane with plenty in reserve to fend off the advancing Swipe.

“I had a little trouble getting over from my outside post (13), but except for the first turn I had good position,” said Gutierrez. “Being wide wasn’t a problem. I didn’t want to get to the rail and get covered up. He was running fine on the outside and so we just stayed there. I’ve always had confidence in this horse. He’s a good one.”

Riker, trained by Woodbine-based Nick Gonzalez for Tucci Stables, set the pace in the Juvenile under jockey Jesse Campbell staying on for sixth.  The Casse-conditioned duo of Conquest Big E and Siding Spring finished eighth and 10th respectively.  Reddam also sent out Ralis for a 14th-place finish in the marquee event for two-year-olds. In addition, the Reddam-owned Land Over Sea finished seventh in the Grade 1 $2-million Juvenile Fillies.

The featured $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic was won by U.S. Triple Crown champion American Pharoah in a runaway track record performance under jockey Victor Espinoza.

Additional Canadian-connected results on the card include top sprinter Private Zone, bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, who finished second to Runhappy in the $1.5-million Sprint.

A trio of starters in the Grade 1 $1-million Turf Sprint included Stacked Deck (10th, trained by Woodbine-based Barb Minshall), Something Extra (13th, trained and co-owned by Woodbine-based Gail Cox) and Jimmy Bouncer (14th, owned by Reddam).

Live thoroughbred racing resumes Sunday at Woodbine with a 10-race card including the featured $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes.  First post time is 1 p.m. 

Flipcup, under a timely ride by Luis Contreras, rallied to an impressive score inSaturday's $158,200 Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes, at Woodbine.

 

Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Team Penney Racing, Wachtel Stable and Brous Stable LLC., Flipcup arrived at the 1 1/4-mile 'Poly' stake for open fillies and mares from a narrow neck score in the Classy n' Smart Stakes onSeptember 27. 

 

Based in Saratoga, the New York-bred daughter of Milwaukee Brew started her career at Woodbine Racetrack with trainer Brian Lynch and now boasts a record of 4-1-1 from six starts on Woodbine's 'Poly'.

 

Academic, enjoying a remarkable sophomore season with wins in the Woodbine Oaks, Grade 3 Canadian Derby and Grade 3 B.C. Derby, set the pace in the Maple Leaf, leading a field of nine through splits of :24.34 and :48.61 under pressure from Club One Two and Midnight Miley. 

 

Justin Stein maintained a good hold on Academic down the back straight before letting the likely three-year-old filly champion open up into the final turn as Finn's Jewel and Flipcup, the latter picking off horses one by one from next to last, were urged into contention.

 

Academic maintained a length advantage turning for home, but Flipcup, full of run, angled off the rail and surged past Academic to secure a two-length win.  Academic held on for place, a length in front of Dido. Flipcup covered 1 1/4-miles in 2:03.43.

 

"She relaxed right away. I was just trying to save ground and make one move in the stretch and she galloped out," said Contreras.

 

"She's been spectacular. We started her career here (at Woodbine) with Brian Lynch who did a great job with her as a juvenile," said Shirl Penney of Team Penney Racing who also bred the filly. "She was bred by Milwaukee Brew, an Ontario sire, and foaled in New York. We bred her that way purposely so we could run in the Ontario-sired races here in Canada as well as in the New York races. She obviously seems to favour the synthetic here."

 

Flipcup, bred in New York by Team Penney Racing, banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to 6-4-5 from 17 career starts.

 

She paid $16.90, $6.90 and $4, combining with Academic ($3.40, $2.50) for a $52.50 (8-2) exactor. An 8-2-7 triactor (Dido, $4.20 to show) was worth $338.40, while a $1 Superfecta [8-2-7-6 (Finn's Jewel)] came back $1240.60. Eastern Atlantic was scratched.