Filo Di Arianna Goes Wire-to-Wire in Connaught Cup
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Photo: Michael Burns
Filo Di Arianna wins the Connaught Cup Stakes at Woodbine
Mark Casse trainee Filo Di Arianna kept his Woodbine unbeaten streak intact July 23, taking the CA$179,300 Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T) at the Toronto oval.
With Luis Contreras aboard, Filo Di Arianna, the slight 2-1 choice, broke running and quickly assumed command of the seven-furlong grass feature, as multiple graded stakes winner Silent Poet , to the outside, and longshot Vanbrugh , to the inside, kept close tabs on the pacesetter through an opening quarter timed in :23.19.
The 6-year-old son of Drosselmeyer was still running comfortably on the lead as Silent Poet, still second, and Vanbrugh, in third, continued to track the frontrunner through a half reached in :46.25.
As the field headed into the turn for home, Contreras and Filo Di Arianna were still in charge, as a host of horses began to launch their bids down the lane.
Ahead by a length at the stretch call, Filo Di Arianna easily fended off his rivals, crossing the line a 2 1/2 length winner in a sharp 1:20.36.
March to the Arch completed a one-two Casse finish, nosing out Silent Poet for second spot. Chewing Gum was fourth.
Filo Di Arianna paid $6.80 on a $2 win ticket, improving his record to 6-0-0 from eight starts and increasing his earnings to $192,417. His only off the board finishes came in the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland and Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park this past spring before he was sent to join Casse's Woodbine string.
Contreras, aboard the chestnut horse for the first time, took over from leading rider Kazushi Kimura, who was injured in the seventh race on Friday's card.
"My agent mentioned it (getting the call) this morning," said Contreras, who won last year's running with Avie's Flatter . "I was so happy, but sorry for Kazushi. I hope he's okay and hopefully he can come back soon."
Filo Di Arianna is now 3-for-3 at Woodbine
The veteran rider was thrilled with the effort of the horse owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch. Filo Di Arianna is now a perfect 3-for-3 at Woodbine, including a win last time out in a July 3 allowance optional claiming race.
"He's just a great horse and I'm so thankful Mark gave me the confidence to be on him today," Contreras said.
Bred by Stud Principessa di Capri in Brazil, Filo Di Arianna is out of the Northern Afleet mare Principessa Capri who has five winners out of five foals to start. The dam has also produced Culo e Camicia a winner of the 2021 Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado (G1) at Gavea. She also has a full sibling to Filo Di Arianna in the 3-year-old filly Formentera.