Woodbine wrap: Miss Dracarys wins Dance Smartly for Drysdale

Miss Dracarys, invading from Belmont Park for trainer Neil Drysdale, went straight to the front and led her six rivals on a merry chase to score by one length under Javier Castellano in Sunday’s Grade 2, US$148,804 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.

The Dance Smartly, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares, was the first start for Miss Dracarys since she became a stakes winner over the distance and surface in the listed Forever Together at Belmont on Nov. 20.

Miss Dracarys, breaking from the outside post, wasted no time in establishing herself as the one to catch. She showed the way through fractions of 24.07, 47.91 and 1:11.02 with the Chad Brown-trained Salimah in hot pursuit and Justify My Love in a good striking position along the rail.

Amping up the pace while Moira loomed large following a perfect outside stalking trip in fourth, Miss Dracarys had plenty in reserve. She blew past the mile marker in 1:33.87 en route to a final time of 1:39.60.

Moira had moved into serious contention around the final turn and had dead aim on the winner straightening out for home but was unable to reel in the loose-on-the-lead winner as the even-money choice.

Last year’s Canada horse of the year and champion 3-year-old filly after capturing the Woodbine Oaks and the then Queen’s Plate last summer, Moira was suffering her third hard-luck defeat in as many starts this season.

Ready Lady rallied from the rear to finish 3 1/4 lengths back in third with Justify My Love a nose back.

Miss Dracarys, a daughter of Malibu Moon and Ask Me When, who was bred in Kentucky by Castleton Lyons and Kilboy Estate, was recording her fifth career victory and first graded stakes win while making her 13th start in the Dance Smartly. She returned $10.70 as the third choice in the wagering.

Drysdale has enjoyed some major victories here in the past, registering Woodbine Mile (G1) wins with Labeeb in 1998, Touch of the Blues in 2003 and Becrux in 2006 as well as a Canadian International (G1) score with Marsh Side in 2008.

Patches O'Houlihan is 6-for-7 after Bold Venture

Patches O’Houlihan, a 3-year-old son of Reload out of Maythefourthbwithu, wired his rivals in the Grade 3, US$117,116 Bold Venture  for 3-year-olds and up.

Stepping up in class and taking on older, more seasoned competition didn’t faze Patches O’Houlihan one bit.

Under Daisuke Fukumoto, the bay gelding in typical fashion broke sharply from the gate and took control of the nine-horse field, leading Old Chestnut, one of three Martin Drexler trainees, by two lengths through an opening quarter-mile split in 22:68 seconds.

Patches O’Houlihan extended his advantage over that rival to four lengths through a half-mile in 44.61 seconds but soon felt the pressure from both sides when he navigated the turn for home.

In front by a half-length at the stretch call, the Robert Tiller trainee continued to fight on and crossed the wire a 1 1/4-length winner. Last American Exit (45-1) was second, a half-length ahead of third-place Old Chestnut. Secret Reserve was fourth.

The winning time for 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:15.34.

“I knew my speed in the race, but you know anything can happen,” Fukumoto said. “I just rode simple, rode good. I went inside and then took the lead. He’s only 3, right? It was a tough trip for him, and he tried hard. He’s a nice horse.”

It was the latest impressive outing for Patches O’Houlihan. Bred and owned by Frank Di Giulio Jr., the sprint star debuted in September and won in style with a 4 1/2-length victory at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta. After a sixth on the turf in the Bull Page, he came back with an eye-catching, 9 3/4-length romp at 5 1/2 furlongs over the Tapeta in his 3-year-old debut in May.

After another win over the same distance and same surface, Patches O’Houlihan stepped up to the stakes ranks and took the Lake Huron on the Woodbine inner turf on July 8 and the Lake Superior on July 30.

“I’ve got to give Frank a lot of credit,” Tiller said. “We test each other. It’s like a marriage. At the end of the day, this is a super good horse. I don’t want to say he’s a (star like) Pink Lloyd, but he’s a super good horse. This is a big thrill for me.”

Sporting a record of 7: 6-0-0, all at Woodbine, Patches O’Houlihan (2-1) paid $6.30 for Sunday’s win.