Pirate's Trove Fights Hard in Duchess Stakes
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Photo:
WEG/Michael Burns
Al Shahania Racing’s Pirate’s Trove earned a hard-fought nose score
over Cactus Kris to capture Sunday’s co-featured $125,000 Duchess
Stakes for sophomore fillies, at Woodbine.
Trained by Michael Stidham and ridden by Florent Geroux, the
Speightstown bay arrived at Woodbine off an impressive 12 ¼-length debut
score at Arlington Park.
Sent to post as the even money favourite, Pirate’s Trove tracked
the early speed of Zensational Bunny who set splits of :22.94 and :46.14
in the seven furlong ‘Poly’ tilt.
Zensational Bunny maintained a narrow lead at the top of the lane
as Pirate’s Trove and Hillhouse High surged into contention, but
Pirate’s Trove emerged with the lead between rivals and then fended off a
furious rally from Presque Isle downs shipper Cactus
Kris to earn her first stakes score.
Pirate’s Trove covered seven furlongs in 1:22.75.
“She was looking around a little bit the last eighth (of a mile), but she hung on,” said Geroux.
Although the filly has just two starts under her belt, Geroux is quite familiar with the talented miss.
“I’ve been working her for several weeks before she raced,” said
Geroux. “She can be a little bit hyper, a little bit complicated
sometimes, but she ran very fast and is a very nice filly.”
Pirate’s Trove banked $75,000 in victory while remaining perfect through two career starts.
She returned $4.10, $2.90 and $2.40, pairing with Cactus Kris
($6.20, $3.80 for a $27.40 (1-3) exactor. A 1-3-5 (Hillhouse High,
$2.60 to show) triactor was worth $82.10. Madly Truly completed a $1
Superfecta (1-2-5-4) worth $197.40. Lacarolina, On Rainbow
Bridge and Divine River were scratched.
Lafontaine springs Toronto Cup upset
Lafontaine, under a ground-saving trip from
Steve Bahen, overtook favoured Heart to Heart in the final strides
through the pouring rain to capture Sunday’s $128,500 Toronto Cup Stakes
for three-year-olds, at Woodbine.
Trained by Liz Charalambous, the Cudney Stables homebred named for
Sir Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, the first Canadian to become Prime
Minister of the United Province of Canada, overcame 18-1 odds to earn
his first stakes score.
“I’m very proud of this horse,” said Charalambous. “He’s really
figured it out now and knows why he’s here and what we’re asking of him.
The talent was always there, he just had to figure it out.”
Lafontaine arrived at the 1 1/8-miles turf tilt from a sharp
pace-pressing maiden allowance score on June 28 over the same E.P.
Taylor Turf Course.
Sent to post as the 8-5 favourite coming out of the Queen's Plate,
Heart to Heart led a six-horse field through splits of :24.06 and :47.34
with Lafontaine tracking along the rail from second position.
Heart to Heart, with Luis Contreras up, took a bunched-up field
into the turn as Sly Tom and Florida Won were urged into contention, but
it was the patient Bahen who guided Lafontaine off the rail and wore
down the pacesetter in the final stride.
Lafontaine covered 1 1/8-miles in 1:48.86 over good going. Pumpkin Rumble rallied for place over Heart to Heart.
Charalambous was full of praise for the perfect trip engineered by Bahen.
“Steve rode him perfectly. I asked him to sit off the speed, which
he did and I was just a little concerned that he might get stuck on the
rail but things opened up for him and he exploded,” said Charalambous.
Lafontaine banked $75,000 in victory, improving his record to two wins from five starts.
He paid $38.70, $15.90 and $6, combining with Pumpkin Rumble
($10.70, $5) for a $217.70 (1-2) exactor. A 1-2-3 (Heart to Heart,
$3.10) triactor was worth $548.60.
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