Amalfi Coast Rallies to Royal North Score at Woodbine

Trainer Kevin Attard and jockey Justin Stein teamed up to win a pair of stakes Aug. 1 at Woodbine, including the CA$196,000 (US$157,057) Royal North Stakes (G2T) with Terra Racing Stable homebred Amalfi Coast .

The victory came one race after Attard gave Stein a leg up on the successful Munnyfor Ro  in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser.

Amalfi Coast rallied up the rail in the six-furlong Royal North for fillies and mares, coming out on top by a nose over Jeanie B  in a photo finish. The final time on the firm turf was 1:09.15.

"She's push-button to ride; very professional horse," said Stein. "She knows what she's doing. I've watched her run and got to be fortunate enough to ride her and steer her around a few times. When I pulled the trigger, she gives me everything she's got. She came over ready and is a pleasure to be around. She's a really nice horse." 

Jeanie B pressed the frontrunning Sister Peacock  through fractions of:22.78 and :45.83 and seemed headed for victory after taking charge and reaching the furlong pole with a length advantage. But Amalfi Coast was closing hard along the rail and got the nod over the game runner-up with the even-money favorite Change of Control  another half-length back in third. Last year's Royal North winner Lady Grace  finished fourth with Fairywren , Sister Peacock, and Jeannie's Beepbeep  rounding out the order of finish. 

Lead Guitar  broke behind the field and was deemed to have received an unfair start, with the stewards ordering a full pari-mutuel refund. 

Amalfi Coast returned $9.60 for a $2 win ticket. 

A 5-year-old daughter of Tapizar  , Amalfi Coast was bred in Ontario out of the Include   mare Include Katherine. She is a half sister to graded stakes-placed Why Katherine , stakes-placed Chris' Brew , and stakes-placed Afleet Katherine . 

Amalfi Coast increased her earnings to $480,367 with a 6-2-3 record in 16 starts.

"It's a funny game," said Attard. "She's a special horse. Last year she ran into some issues--some bad luck and a little throat issue early on. I kind of mismanaged her maybe a little bit wrong, so this year we came in with a different game plan. She's really appreciated that and she's showing the horse that she's capable of being." 

Video: Royal North S. (G2T)

Souper Stonehenge Holds On in Vigil

Souper Stonehenge  assumed command early and held off a closing bid by Pink Lloyd  to capture the CA$159,300 (US$127,649) Vigil Stakes (G3) at the Ontario track, besting the seven-time Sovereign Award winner for a second straight race.

Live Oak Plantation's homebred Souper Stonehenge, trained by Mark Casse, held on to win by three-quarters of a length. He was piloted by Patrick Husbands and completed the six furlongs on the fast track in 1:09.52.

"It's good to sit on light horses and good to sit on good horses," said Husbands. "I've ridden probably 180 big races for Mark; he never gave me instructions. I have the confidence in this horse, that what it is." 

"He left there—what he wanted to do—(and I) just left him alone. It worked out good today." 

Souper Stonehenge led through fractions of :22.96 and :45.73. Green Light Go  forced the issue through the opening quarter with Not So Quiet  also in close attendance and taking over second place as the leader reached the half while maintaining a one-length advantage. 

Pink Lloyd, meanwhile, had been shuffled back to last in the field of six but hit his stride after straightening out for home and was gallant in defeat while leaving Not So Quiet three-quarters of a length back in third. Cash Dividend , Embolden , and Green Light Go rounded out the order of finish.

Souper Stonehenge returned $2.70 as the favorite while ending Pink Lloyd's bid for a fifth consecutive Vigil score. He also defeated Pink Lloyd in the June 20 Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3).

A 5-year-old gelding by Speightstown  , Souper Stonehenge was bred in Florida out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d'Oro   mare Onepointhreekarats . He is a half brother to grade 1-placed stakes winner Tap It to Win .

Souper Stonehenge holds a 5-4-1 record in 16 starts and has earned $343,705.

"He's one of my little favorites," said Husbands. "We kid around, we play around. He's just a horse you want to be around." 

Video: Vigil S. (G3)