Woodbine: Dixie Law and The Big Con capture Sunday stakes
Odds-on favorite The Big Con rated off the early pace before surging to command in the stretch, drawing away to score in Sunday's the Grade 3, US$107,062 Grey Stakes at Woodbine.
The two-turn, 1 1/16-mile synthetic race for 2-year-olds saw jockey Sahin Civaci guide the Miguel Clement-trained colt to his second consecutive win.
Gone With Duwyn (21-1) established the early lead through an opening quarter-mile in 24.65 seconds, pressed by Madagascar (5-1) and Big Time Boss (5-1). The half went in 50.21 seconds as Gone With Duwyn continued to show the way.
The Big Con, racing in fourth early, began his rally on the far turn. Through three-quarters in 1:15.18, he moved into striking position. The Dark Angel colt took command past the mile marker in 1:40.14 and powered clear through the lane.
Silent Tactic (5-1), ridden by Fraser Aebly for trainer Mark Casse, closed to secure second. Wembley Avenue (83-1) rallied from far back under Jalon Samuel to complete the trifecta at massive odds for trainer Sid Attard. Buium (8-1) finished fourth.
The winning time on the fast synthetic surface was 1:46.57.
The Big Con paid $3.60, $2.50 and $2.10 across the board. Silent Tactic returned $4.20 and $3.90. Wembley Avenue paid $8.30 to show.
Bred in Great Britain by St Albans Bloodstock and owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, The Big Con improved his record to 2-for-2. The gray colt captured his debut Oct. 17 at Presque Isle Downs, winning by 8 1/2 lengths going a mile.
Dixie Law rallies late to win Mazarine
Ontario-bred Dixie Law rallied from just off the pace to capture Sunday's Grade 3, US$107,062 Mazarine Stakes, defeating late-running Vanity in the 1 1/16-mile contest for 2-year-old fillies on Woodbine's Tapeta surface.
Rafael Hernandez rode the victory for trainer Dale Desruisseaux in the six-horse field. Dixie Law improved her record to 4: 3-0-0 for owner Hillsbrook Farms.
Bold Time and Dyna dueled through modest early fractions of 25.11 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 50.26 for the half. Dixie Law sat in good striking position in third through the early stages.
Bold Time led the field through three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.84 before Dixie Law began to assert herself turning for home. The daughter of Tiz the Law ranged up alongside Bold Time through a mile in 1:40.00 and took command inside the final furlong.
Vanity, making her stakes debut, closed to secure second. Katie's Grace rallied for third, and longshot Backstreet Emma completed the superfecta.
Dixie Law stopped the timer in 1:46.71 and paid $6.10, $4.20 and $2.70. Vanity returned $6.20 and $3.50. Katie's Grace paid $3.00 to show.
Bred by Garland Williamson, Dixie Law most recently captured the Cup and Saucer Stakes for Canadian-breds in her previous start. Her lone setback came when sixth in the Natalma (G1) at Woodbine in Sept.