Rondure Lands Marine, Souper Hoity Toity Upsets Selene
Image:
Description:
Photo: Michael Burns
Rondure romps in the Marine Stakes at Woodbine
Rondure stamped himself as a legitimate contender for the Aug. 21 Queen's Plate with a head-turning performance in the CA$177,900 Marine Stakes (G3) July 2 at Woodbine.
After two troubled starts to launch his career in 2021, Rondure broke his maiden by double-digits in May before falling a head short of catching The Minkster in the June 12 Queenston Stakes in his stakes debut.
The second choice in the field of eight, Rondure tracked the early pace of :24.59 and :49.06 set by race favorite Ironstone . Clinging to a narrow lead past the six-furlong marker in 1:12.74, Rondure loomed menacingly turning for home and established command at the quarter pole.
Rondure began to effortlessly distance himself from his rivals, converting a 2 1/2-length advantage at the stretch call into a dominating 5 1/2 length score under Rafael Hernandez. Duke of Love edged Ironstone for second, while Mannix was fourth.
"I was worried about the short timeline between the Queenston and this race," said trainer Katerina Vassilieva. "There were a few question marks there. But, boy, it didn't seem like a factor at all today."
Rondure ($10.40) stopped the timer in 1:43.57 for 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta main track.
A homebred for Borders Racing Stable, the diminutive colt has his connections looking toward the Queen's Plate.
"(We're) excited, of course," offered Vassilieva. "But business as usual when it comes to the horse. I'm just going to do what I always do try to take the best care as I can of the horse, do right by him, and hopefully we get to the Plate and get to have some fun."
Rondure, an Ontario-bred son of Oxbow , is out of the winning Trajectory mare Carat Weight , the dam of two winners from two foals to race.
Video: Marine S. (G3)
Souper Hoity Toity Springs Selene Upset
Live Oak Plantation's Souper Hoity Toity , one of three entrants for trainer Mark Casse, notched her first stakes score with an 8-1 upset in the CA$150,900 Selene Stakes (G3) earlier on the card.
Souper Hoity Toity wins the Selene Stakes
The daughter of Uncle Mo was sixth early under Patrick Husbands as her stablemate Join the Dance took the field through a slow opening quarter of :25.19. Super Hoity Toity made a strong move down the backstretch, advancing herself to second past the half-mile in :49.84. As the field turned for home, Souper Hoity Toity pounced on her soon-to-be retreating barnmate and fended off a bold challenge from even-money favorite Catiche down the lane.
Souper Hoity Toity prevailed by three-quarters of length over Catiche, clocking a time of 1:45.11 on the Tapeta main track for 1 1/16-mile distance.
Mrs. Barbara , last year's Canadian champion 2-year-old female, also conditioned by Casse, finished third. Join the Dance rounded out the top four.
Souper Hoity Toity is the second foal produced from the winning Speightstown mare Town Tour , bred in Kentucky by Dr. Richard Holder & Coolmore.
It was the third win from five starts for the bay, who made her sophomore debut. She boosted her earnings to $144,835 after Saturday's victory.
Super Hoity Toity returned $18 on a $2 win ticket. Gizala was scratched.
Purchased by agent Al Pike as a yearling for $185,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Sale from the Burleson Farms consignment, she was then offered by Pike Racing at the 2021 Ocala Breeders Sales Company March Sale of 2-Year-Olds-in-Training, where Live Oak acquired her for $550,000.