Master Spy Goes Gate-to-Wire in Cup and Saucer
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Photo: Michael Burns
Master Spy wins the Cup and Saucer Stakes at Woodbine
Tracy Farmer's Master Spy seized the lead in the 84th running of the CA$250,400 (US$190,877) Cup and Saucer Stakes and never looked back to secure his first stakes score Oct. 10 at Woodbine.
The Silent Name colt trained by Mark Casse led the field of nine gate-to-wire on the E.P. Taylor turf course in the 1 1/16-mile feature showcasing Canadian-bred 2-year-olds.
Jockey Patrick Husbands put Master Spy on top, warding off early inside pressure from second choice Credit River and setting fractions of :24, :48.11, and 1:12.71 through three-quarters of a mile on firm turf. Turning for home, Master Spy kept clear as Threefiftyseven launched an all-out charge in second and opened up 3 1/4 lengths down the stretch to score in 1:42.67. Giant Waters edged Beyond My Dreams for third.
"The riders saw the first two races run on the turf today that the winners came from behind, so I was telling myself I hope the (other) riders stick with that plan and I can get an easy lead," Husbands said. "It's amazing to see that every time I leave the gate, he was relaxed. He was never rank at all. It showed me that if anybody won't leave today, I didn't mind."
Fresh off a maiden-breaking victory Sept. 13 over a mile on the E.P. Taylor turf, Master Spy was sent postward as the 5-2 favorite and paid $7.30 to win. The dark bay colt, who was second in the Aug. 2 Victoria Stakes, has a 2-1-1 record from four starts and has earned $200,239.
Bred in Ontario by Bernard and Karen McCormack, Master Spy was a $72,000 yearling purchase by Farmer from Cara Bloodstock's consignment to the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out of the Smart Strike mare Smart Catomine and is a half brother to 2017 Prince of Wales Stakes winner Cool Catomine and Wild Catomine, who defeated 2014 Canadian Horse of the Year Lexie Lou in that year's Fury Stakes. Smart Catomine has a yearling colt by Society's Chairman , a filly born in May by Paynter , and was reported bred this year to Astern.