Credit River Upsets Ontario Racing Stakes at 41-1
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Photo: Michael Burns
Credit River wins the Ontario Racing Stakes at Woodbine
Homebred Credit River, a 2-year-old son of More Than Ready , made his debut a winning one Sept. 19 in the CA$155,790 (US$117,985) Ontario Racing Stakes at Woodbine.
Trained by Breeda Hayes for Garnet Williamson's Hillsbrook Farms, Credit River at 41-1 was the longest shot on the board for the second running of the five-furlong inner turf stakes for juveniles.
With Emma-Jayne Wilson in the irons, the Ontario-bred broke sixth and last in the sprint as even-money favorite Amsden and Quick Tempo both broke sharply and proceeded to go toe-to-toe on the front end, with Souper Classy racing third.
The pacesetters continued to duel through a blistering opening quarter-mile in :21.43, as Wilson and Credit River endeavored to keep the duo in their sights.
After a half in :45.09, the field began to reel in the fleet-footed frontrunners to their outside.
Credit River, still sitting last, was already in high gear and soon began picking off rivals one by one down the lane, storming home to win by three-quarters of a length in a final time of :57.06 on firm turf.
Sky's Not Falling was second, and Souper Classy took the show award. Too Legit was fourth, and Quick Tempo, who crossed the wire fifth, was relegated to sixth after interfering with Amsden at the eighth-pole.
Credit River paid $84.20 on a $2 win ticket.
"It was a tough task and a tall task—I mean, a first-time starter—but he showed his talent today," Wilson said. "I just let him get his legs, he got away from there OK, but he's not nearly as quick as those guys were early, and I didn't expect him to be, so when I gathered him up and asked him to pick it up, he didn't even hesitate. … He was all business."
Multiple stakes-winning rider Wilson was thrilled with the poise Credit River showed down the lane in his curtain-raising race.
"This horse comes by his talent honestly," Wilson said. "You can see it in the form; his mom (Like a Gem) was a multiple stakes winner that I used to ride here, and one of his siblings (half sister Hard Not to Like) was a grade 1 winner. So to see him flourish on the turf is no surprise."
Video: Ontario Racing S. (BT)
Dirty Dangle Cleans Up in Woodbine Cares
Dirty Dangle, under a heads-up ride from Sheena Ryan, closed resolutely to score by 1 1/4 lengths in Saturday's CA$135,810 (US$102,853) Woodbine Cares Stakes at Woodbine.
The second running of the Woodbine Cares, a five-furlong inner turf race for 2-year-old fillies, attracted a field of seven with Dirty Dangle going postward as the third choice at 4.65-1.
"I had so much horse going around the turn and I'm like as soon as we get a clearing … I had lots of horse, she ran really well, and I'm really impressed with her," said Ryan, who was guiding Dirty Dangle to her second win in as many tries for trainer Ralph Biamonte. "They did a great job, Ralph and his crew … they did a great job and they got this filly ready really well."
Dirty Dangle broke alertly and was part of a scramble for the early lead but was eased back on the inside while Chatelet and Souper Munnings duked it out through a :22.14 quarter and a :45.15 half.
Souper Munnings held a head advantage at the latter call, but Rocket Reload and Illegal Smile were on the move with Dirty Dangle also gearing up for the stretch run.
Rocket Reload held a length advantage with a furlong to go, but Illegal Smile, the 9-5 choice for Kentucky-based trainer Wesley Ward, was on the move.
Illegal Smile, who had found herself stuck outside the early speed after breaking from the outside post, rallied smartly while remaining wide around the turn and into the stretch and appeared to have overcome her difficult trip until Dirty Dangle came calling. The Irish-bred did manage to finish second, a head to the good of Rocket Reload in third.
Souper Munnings was another three lengths back in fourth with Forest Drift, Chatelet, and Silent Mamba completing the order of finish.
The final time on the firm course was :56.82.
Dirty Dangle remained perfect after debuting with a head score over five furlongs of Tapeta. Souper Munnings was the runner-up there and came back to break her maiden prior to the Woodbine Cares.
"We always thought she was pretty good," said Biamonte, who conditions the Kentucky-bred Dirty Dangle for Carmen DeMizio and his wife, Mary Biamonte. "And 'Sheens' did an excellent job both times. Today she looked like she got into a little bit of trouble, she kept her composure, moved to the outside, and away she came."
Dirty Dangle returned $11.30, $4.70 and $3.60 with Illegal Smile ($3.60, $2.80) completing the exacta of $46.40.