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Run in Aruba and jockey Luis Contreras head to the winner's circle after the Kingarvie Stakes.

The $125,000 Kingarvie Stakes, for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds, is considered an early prep for the Queen's Plate, with many of the entrants running 2 turns for the first time. A field of 7 went 1 1/16 miles over Woodbine's Polytrack on Saturday afternoon, under cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 50's with minimal wind. Jenna's Wabbit was sent off as the 2-5 favorite off a 2 race win streak consisting of the Bull Page and the Frost King. In to challenge him included 9-2 second choice True Executive, second in the Frost King after his debut win, and 7-1 third choice Run in Aruba, an allowance winner last out.

Run in Aruba draws off in the stretch

Jockey Patrick Husbands sent favored Jenna's Wabbit to the lead first time past the stands and he set easy fractions of 25.19, 49.34, and 1:13.57 over the fast surface while stalked by 28-1 Stage Best a length behind. Jenna's Wabbit continued to lead to mid-stretch, getting the mile in 1:38.70, but tired badly in the final 1/16. Run in Aruba, last for the first 3/4 mile under new jockey Luis Contreras, came out 4 wide for room on the turn, gaining second at the 1/8 pole and driving by the favorite late to win going away by 3 1/2 lengths over late-running 15-1 Ultimate Destiny in a time of 1:45.23. It was just a head back to True Executive third, while Jenna's Rabbit checked in 5th.

 #  Horse                Jockey          Win  Place   Show
 7  Run in Aruba         Contreras     15.60   6.90   6.70
 6  Ultimate Destiny     Bahen                10.10  10.30
 2  True Executive       Wilson                       6.00

Winning Time:  1:43.23

$2 Exacta  (7-6) paid             133.00
$2 Trifecta (7-6-2) paid          601.50
$1 Superfecta (7-6-2-5) paid    1,786.90

Left: Run in Aruba in the winner's circle. Winning owner Donna Blake, celebrating her first stakes win with her very first horse, said, "He was a present from my husband, he told me while I was in Aruba. We're very proud of Aruba today. I'm speechless." Asked if she panicked when the horse was last entering the lane, she added, "I've been panicking all day!"

Right: Run in Aruba in the post parade. Trainer Ralph Biamonte said, "Aruba has been going so good. He's been acting like the star of the barn for the past month. He's so different (from stablemate and beaten favorite Jenna's Wabbit). After he ran a poor race (8th in debut) someone wanted to buy him but we didn't sell. And I'm glad we didn't. We've had a great season. I give all the credit back to (former boss) Gord Huntley because until him I didn't know what to do before that."

Left: Second place finisher Ultimate Destiny in the post parade. The 15-1 shot raced midpack 4th under jockey Steven Bahen, then finished 4 wide to get 2nd money. The Mike Keogh trainee improved his record to 1 win and 1 second in 3 starts, earning $61,894 for owner Brenda Selwyn-Waxman.

Right: Third place finisher True Executive heads out of the paddock. The 9-2 second choice settled in 5th 3 lengths back under regular rider Emma-Jayne Wilson, then finished all-out to get third beaten 3 1/2 lengths. He improved his record to 1 win, 1 second, and 1 third in 3 starts, earning $72,290 for owner, breeder, and trainer Paul Buttigieg.

Left: Fifth place finisher and beaten favorite Jenna's Wabbit returns after the race. The odds-on choice led for the first mile under jockey Patrick Husbands but tired in the final 1/16 to check in 5th beaten 5 1/2 lengths. The Ralph Biamonte trainee has a record of 3 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 6 starts, earning $222,189 for owner Danny Lococo.

Right: 2011 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) and 2010 Woodbine Mile (G1) winner Court Vision was paraded in the paddock prior to being retired to stud at Michael Byrne's Park Stud in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada for a fee of $10,000. The dark bay son of Gulch out of Weekend Storm retired with a record of 9 wins, 4 seconds and 4 thirds in 31 starts, with earnings in excess of $3.7 million, including 5 Grade 1's.

Court Vision was purchased privately by B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm in August and raced under their colors for his final 2 starts, the 2011 Woodbine Mile and the Breeders' Cup Mile. Michael Byrne said, "I feel this is the best new stallion to come to Ontario since Northern Dancer. I thank Mr. Hughes for allowing us the opportunity to have him here." Dale Romans, who trained Court Vision for Hughes, said, “People should know that this is the type of horse who can right the ship a little bit in the soundness of racehorses. When you get a horse that’s raced as long as he has, he can put his soundness and durability back into his foals.”

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