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Jockey Rafael Hernandez poses with the Cup and Saucer Stakes trophy which is actually a golden cup and saucer. |
One of the premier races for Canadian-foaled 2-year-olds is the $250,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes at Woodbine, traditionally run on Canadian Thanksgiving weekend and is considered an early prep for next year's Queen's Plate. A field of 11 went to post for this 1 1/16 mile trip around one turn of the E.P. Taylor turf course. After rain on Saturday, conditions were typical for Sunday's feature, with cloudy skies and a race-time temperature of 21 C (70 F) and the turf course rated "yielding" by the stewards, however the GoingStick reading of 9.3 falls in the "good-to-firm" range. Fast Feet was sent off as the 7-2 favorite off his debut win over the inner turf on September 18. In to challenge him included 11-2 second choice Dancin in Da'nile, a debut winner on the Tapeta track August 29 when that race was taken off the turf, and 6-1 third choice Hidden Honor, 3rd in his debut last out on September 18 on Tapeta.
God of Love passes Fast Feet in the stretch. |
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 2 God of Love Hernandez 17.10 8.30 4.90 8 Fast Feet Kimura 5.00 3.20 7 Stronger Together Stein 3.80 Winning Time: 1:47.86 $2 Exacta 2-8 98.20 $2 Trifecta 2-8-8 680.90 $2 Superfecta 2-8-7-5 3,765.10Results Chart
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Left: God of Love in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Rafael Hernandez said, "I tried to get the times, tried to get closer, because I know the turf is soft and we didn't want to be stuck behind too many horses, but he refused to go early. He said, 'Nah.' He was staying back, so I said we will try to make it in one run. I put him in gear, and he gave one run, and he came flying down the lane."
Right: God of Love gets a drink during the inquiry. This is trainer Mark Casse's 6th Cup and Saucer and third straight.
Left: God of Love in the post parade. Hernandez added, "He can go on both (surfaces). He just needs to go longer. The longer he goes, the better he's going to go."
Right: God of Love heads to the winner's circle.
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Fast Feet circles during the inquiry. The Mark Casse trainee improved his record to 1 win and 1 second in 2 starts, earning $88,476 for owner-breeder Gary Barber.
Right: Third place finisher Stronger Together heads out to the track before the race. The Sid Attard trainee improved his record to 2 thirds in 2 starts, earning $29,089 for owner Spruce Park Stable.
Crystal Glacier and 13-1 Juxtapose dueled for the lead through slow fractions of 25.25, 49.90, and 1:14.22 while stalked by Skygaze. Turning for home, Crystal Glacier tired as Justapose continued to lead while challenged by Skygaze. However, 9-1 Art of Almost, last early under Emma-Jayne Wilson, came out 5 wide into the stretch and rallied by at the 1/8 pole to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:43.99. It was another 1/2 length back from Skygaze to Juxtapose third.
Left: Art of Almost in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson said, "I wanted to get an outside run. She can be a little quirky out of the one-hole and I was looking to position myself where I was in range, but could also work my way to the outside so that I could just get her going around the turn."
Right: Art of Almost heads back to the barn. Wilson added, "I mean, as we straightened away, you can see I moved up to them at the top of the stretch and she wasn't even quite ready in full flight yet. So, I was pretty confident when we measured up to Patrick (Husbands aboard Skygaze) there and, when I really reached for it and asked her, she gave me every she had."
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Skygaze in the post parade. The Mark Casse trainee improved her record to 5 wins, 1 second, and 3 thirds in 12 starts, earning $209,975 for owner Tracy Farmer.
Right: Third place finisher Juxtapose returns after the race. The Steve Owens trainee improved her record to 6 wins, 0 seconds, and 3 thirds in 13 starts, earning $161,137 for owners James Redekop and Stefan Ferrario.
The horses break from the gate for the Ontario Matron Stakes.
Jockey Rafael Hernandez sent Tap It to Win to the front first time by through fractions of 24.17 and 47.96 while pressed by 13-1 longest shot Halo Again and stalked by Mighty Heart. On the far turn Halo Again gained a short lead through 3/4 in 1:11.43. Halo Again led to midstretch but 13-2 fourth choice Special Forces, last early under Justin Stein, came out 4 wide and rallied to win by 1/2 a length over Sir Winston in 1:42.36. It was another 2 lengths back to Halo Again third. Jockeys Antonio Gallardo aboard Sir Winston and Shaun Bridgmohan aboard Halo Again both claimed foul against Justin Stein aboard Special Forces for interference in the stretch, but the claims were disallowed.
Left: Special Forces in the winner's circle. Winning jockey Justin Stein said, "I worked him a couple times and he's a lot of horse. I was just the lucky jock to get on him. Kevin and his team have done an amazing job with him. He crushed today. He's a champ."
Right: Special Forces walks over before the race. Winning trainer Kevin Attard said, "We had to be very patient with him, gave him the rest of (last) year off. He was one of the top older horses in 2019, got kind of disrespected today, but showed his true colors." Asked about a possible Sovereign Award he added, "This is the top handicap horse in Canada. Mic drop!"
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Sir Winston returns after the race. The Mark Casse trainee improved his record to 5 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third in 17 starts, earning $1,081,989 for owner-breeder Tracy Farmer.
Right: Third place finisher Halo Again in the post parade. The Steve Asmussen trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 8 starts, earning $243,370 for owners Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing.
The horses break from the gate for the Durham Cup.
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