Woodbine roundup: Palazzi is 1 of 4 graded-stakes winners

Palazzi, trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, dug down deep to take the US$128,172 Eclipse Stakes on Saturday afternoon at Woodbine.

Making his seventh straight graded-stakes appearance, 6-year-old Palazzi, whose last victory came in the Singspiel (G3) at Woodbine in September, was back in winning form courtesy of a rousing performance in the Eclipse, a 1 1/16-mile all-weather affair for 4-year-olds and up.

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Multiple graded-stakes victor Get Smokin, who was supplemented to the race, stormed to the front and led Paramount Prince, last year’s King’s Plate winner, by two lengths through an opening panel in 24.47 seconds. Palazzi, under Sahin Civaci, sat last of seven.

Get Smokin and Paramount Prince, also Casse pupils, continued to set the pace through a half-mile in 49.25 seconds, and Palazzi remained seventh. It was status quo for the leaders around the turn, but others, including Palazzi and multiple stakes winner Tyson, soon arrived on the scene.

Fifth at the stretch call, Palazzi on the far outside reeled in his two game stablemates and fend off hard-charging Tyson to earn a half-length win at a time of 1:43.86. Tyson finished a head in front of Paramount Prince, and Get Smokin was a farther three-quarters of a length back in fourth. War Bomber, who contested the Jacques Cartier (G3) earlier Saturday, was scratched.

“I did want to be coming off the pace,” said Civaci, who was also aboard the Gary Barber-owned gelding for the Singspiel win. “There were a few speed horses here, and I thought that’s the only chance we have. Staying mid-pack, he won’t fire as well as he would. That was the plan, and it worked out.

“Usually, he’s really calm in post parade, but today he was more active and bouncing around here and there. I’ve been working him this season throughout, and he’s been working great.”

Bred by HnR Nothhaft Horseracing and Pioneerof the Nile Syndicate, the well-traveled son of Pioneerof the Nile out of Kindle broke his maiden in his fifth start at 15-1 in a one-mile turf race at Fair Grounds on Dec. 19, 2020. His first stakes success came in the 2021 running of the Texas Turf Mile at Sam Houston.

Palazzi paid $15.10 for today’s win.

Play the Music takes Royal North

Play the Music made it two straight graded-stakes scores after taking the US$98,875 Royal North (G3).

Miss Speedy, a stablemate of Play the Music, lived up to her name as the 6-year-old daughter of Souper Speedy zipped to the lead in the 6 1/2-furlong engagement for older fillies and mares over firm turf as Howboutdemapples and Play the Music settled into second and third, respectively.

Ahead by a half-length after a quarter-mile in 22.99 seconds, Miss Speedy was a head in front of Howboutdemapples through a half-mile in 45.75 seconds as Patrick Husbands and Play the Music watched the proceedings from fourth.

Miss Speedy looked to pull away from her pursuers early the homestretch, but Play the Music powered by to take command and crossed the wire a comfortable 2 1/4-length winner at a time of 1:14.85.

Secret Money finished second but was disqualified and placed seventh. Miss Speedy was elevated to second and Dolce Sopresa to third.

“She broke smart and she relaxed,” Husbands said. “I mean I was just a passenger. As we swung for home, I was just trying to figure out if Sahin (Civaci aboard Miss Speedy) was going to come in or go out. I just gave him about four or five strides, and he stayed straight, so I took the shortest way home.”

Trained by Casse, the 4-year-old daughter of Mo Town out of Hey Little Sister came into the Royal North off a 4 1/4-length score in the six-furlong, all-weather Whimsical (G3) on May 4.

With Saturday’s win, the bay owned by Glassman Racing is 13: 6-1-3. She finished ninth in her debut, the Glorious Song Stakes, at Woodbine on Nov. 5, 2022. Her first stakes success came in the Leinster Lightning City at Tampa Bay Downs in February.

Play the Music paid $6.00 for Saturday’s win. Bred in Kentucky by Laura McKinney, she was a US$300,000 2-year-old purchase.

Fashionably Fab looks good in Belle Mahone

Fashionably Fab and apprentice jockey Pietro Moran were at the top of their respective games in the US$98,875 Belle Mahone (G3).

The start of the 1 1/16-mile race for older fillies and mares on the all-weather track saw Solo Album get away smartly from the gate and top the charts through an opening quarter-mile in 24.79 seconds followed by Metaphysical and Fashionably Fab.

Solo Album remained a half-length clear of Metaphysical after a half-mile in 48.79 seconds. Moran, son of Woodbine journeyman David Moran, kept a patient hand with Fashionable Fab in third.

As the leaders rounded the final turn, Fashionably Fab, riding four-race and four-stakes winning streaks, burst in between her foes and set her sights on game Solo Album. It set the stage for a riveting back-and-forth battle down the lane with Fashionably Fab and Moran eking out a hard-fought neck win in a time of 1:43.73.

Forever Dixie came on for third, and Metaphysical was fourth. Tito’s Calling and Witch Hazel were scratched.

“I’ve worked her since before she ever ran her first race,” Moran said. “I’ve worked her from the gate. We always knew she was special, and I’m thankful to the owners and Kevin for giving me this opportunity. I had a good horse under me.”

Bred and owned by Terra Farms, Fashionably Fab is trained by Kevin Attard and was making her 4-year-old debut coming off a 2023 campaign that yielded four wins and a third from seven starts. Overall, the 4-year-old bay daughter of Silent out of Flashy’s Legacy is 12: 8-0-2.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise, because she’s worked really well,” Attard said. “But was a big step up in company for her, leaving Ontario-sired horses and going to Grade 3 company. Fortunately for us, Pietro gave her a dream of a ride.”

Fashionably Fab, a Sovereign Award finalist in the champion 3-year-old female category, paid $16.20 for the win.

Flag Of Honour sprints to win Cartier

Flag Of Honour took all the spoils in the US$98,875 Jacques Cartier (G3), a six-furlong race for older horses Saturday on the all-weather track.

Trained by Julia Carey, the 5-year-old son of American Pharoah out of Godiva Rock broke alertly under Kazushi Kimura and then seized the lead a few strides before the opening quarter reached in 23.37 seconds.

Still on top through a half-mile in 45.90 seconds, Flag Of Honour was engaged by Step Forward into the turn for home but was able to repel the spirited challenge from the son of Speightstown. Midway down the lane the gelding began to speed away from his rivals en route to a 1 1/4-length score in a time of 1:09.79.

Old Chestnut rallied to finish second, three-quarters of a length in front of Ironstone. Step Forward was a head back for fourth spot.

It was the fifth career victory to go along with a second and a third from 10 starts for Flag Of Honour, who earned his second graded-stakes triumph. Last year the bay eked out a gutsy, nose score in the Kennedy Road (G2).

Bred by Mr. G. Harvey and owned by R.M. Wanless and J.M. Wanless, Flag Of Honour arrived at the Jacques Cartier off a runner-up effort in the Thorncliffe Stakes, run at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Woodbine synthetic, on May 5. Sent off as the 9-5 choice, he paid $5.60 for Saturday’s win.