War Bomber Takes Seagram, Sister Seagull Bison City
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Photo: Michael Burns
War Bomber wins the Seagram Cup Stakes at Woodbine
Bruno Schickedanz's War Bomber , sent off at 18-1, led every step of the way to take the CA$159,000 Seagram Cup (G3) Aug. 14 at Woodbine.
War Bomber, under Sahin Civaci, took charge from the outset of the 1 1/16-mile main track event for 3-year-olds and up, rushing to the lead as Clayton followed in second, with fellow Mark Casse trainees Tap It to Win (last year's Seagram winner), and Frosted Over third and fourth, respectively.
Reaching the opening quarter in :23.92, the Norm McKnight-trained War Bomber held a half-length advantage over Clayton, as Tap It to Win and Frosted Over maintained their third and fourth positions, respectively.
As the field came off the turn for home, Clayton soon matched strides with War Bomber. The front-end battle continued until late stretch, as the latter pulled away along the inside to register a three-quarter-length score in a time of 1:43.26. A fast-closing Artie's Storm rallied to secure second, a length ahead of Clayton.
"Bruno and the trainer were planning to go to the lead," said Civaci. "I was anticipating (jockey) Emma (Jayne Wilson) and the shipping horse (Carrothers ) might take the lead or one of Casse's horses, so I was going to play the break, and no one was sending, so I sent and had an easy pace up front."
Bred by Coolmore, War Bomber is 5-0-1 from 11 starts. The Seagram Cup is his second stakes win, and first graded. Last September, the bay gelding won the Toronto Cup Stakes.
"This is one of the best-bred horses in all of Canada," said Schickedanz. "So, he's got the natural right to be where he is. He had a couple of extra gears and hopefully, we can nourish those gears and get more out of him."
Sister Seagull Ekes Out Bison City Score
It appeared Sister Seagull had run out of runway, but the 3-year-old daughter of Hard Spun found a way to land herself in the winner's circle at the finish of the CA$250,000 Bison City Stakes.
Bred by Sean Fitzhenry, who co-owns with his wife, Dorothy, Sister Seagull finished second to major Queen's Plate contender Moira in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser July 24.
This time, in the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara Series, the Catherine Day Phillips trainee went one better.
But it wasn't easy.
Strega , under Rafael Hernandez, zipped to the lead in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race, with Lady Brew , Pioneer's Edge , Sister Seagull, and Souper Flashy following through an opening quarter-mile of :23.85.
The order of the five-horse field remained unchanged through a half in :48.00, as Strega kept her lead over Lady Brew at two lengths.
Sister Seagull, with Antonio Gallardo in the irons, continued to save ground along the inside but had plenty of work to do to collar the leader, who was still running comfortably on the front, a length on top at the stretch call.
Sister Seagull wins the Bison City Stakes
Gallardo and his 3-year-old filly began to cut into the lead in deep stretch, striking the front in the final strides to record a neck win over a very game Strega. Pioneer's Edge, fifth in the Woodbine Oaks, was third.
The final time was 1:44.48.
"She's started getting better," Gallardo said. "After putting the blinkers on, she got more focused. She improves every race. Last time (in the Woodbine Oaks), there was a more aggressive pace, and I had a little bit of traffic that day, but I think the winner (Moira) is much the best. We finished second and I'm pretty happy about that. I'm very confident today. She's honest and I like that."
Sister Seagull is 2-1-1 from seven starts. She broke her maiden two starts ago in a maiden special weight race June 5.
The final race of the Canadian Triple Tiara Series, the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, is set for Sept. 11.
Sister Seagull paid $5.40 to win.
Video: Seagram Cup S. (G3)