Filo Di Arianna, Fev Rover Shine in Stakes at Woodbine

Filo Di Arianna , perfect in his initial three starts in his native Brazil, where he was a champion in 2019, knows only perfection in Canada, as well.

The 6-year-old Drosselmeyer  horse improved to 4-for-4 north of the U.S. border Aug. 21 at Woodbine in capturing the CA$213,6000 King Edward Stakes (G2T) by two lengths over Harlan Estate . The victory followed a win in last month's Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T) and two allowance wins at the Toronto oval.

Only a pair of losses that began his 2022 season in the U.S., coming with excuses in the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) at Keeneland and in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park, are blemishes on his nine-race resume.

He showed Sunday why he is of such high class. Hounded on the lead by Town Cruise , last year's Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) winner, Filo Di Arianna and jockey Kazushi Kimura turned him back in early stretch and had plenty left to never prove challenged by a late inside rally from Harlan Estate.

The winner, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse for owners Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Peter Deutsch, raced a mile on the E.P. Taylor turf course in 1:34.69 following fractions of :23.49, :46.47, and 1:10.12. He paid $4.40 as the favorite.

Haddash was a steady-paced third. March to the Arch , Town Cruise, and Weburn completed the order of finish. Grade 1 winner Shirl's Speight was scratched.

The King Edward is likely to propel some starters into the Sept. 17 Woodbine Mile, one of three Breeders' Cup Challenge races hosted this year by Woodbine.  

Bred by Stud Principessa di Capri, Filo Di Arianna is among two graded/group winners produced by the winning Northern Afleet mare Principessa Capri (BRZ). All five of the dam's foals are winners.

Video: King Edward S. (G2T)

Fev Rover Nips Crystal Cliffs in Canadian Stakes

Fev Rover , classic-placed and a group 2 winner in Europe, began to live up to her lofty price tag with a thrilling victory in the CA$200,000 Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T).

Tracy Farmer acquired the 4-year-old daughter of Gutaifan  for $971,704 at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale. Sent overseas to longtime Farmer trainer Mark Casse, Fev Rover made her North American debut in the July 24 Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T), falling 1 3/4 lengths shy of the more seasoned Wakanaka  after leading for most of the journey.

Back with jockey Patrick Husbands in the Canadian, Fev Rover darted up the inside and pressed Angelou  into early splits of :24.50 and :49.28. Seizing the lead around the turn, she was soon met by a fierce challenge from Nassau Stakes (G2T) winner Crystal Cliffs , who wheeled widest of all turning into the lane under Rafael Hernandez.

The Brendan Walsh-trained Flirting Bridge mounted a bid but failed to keep up with Fev Rover and Crystal Cliffs as that pair duked it out stride for stride to the wire.

Although Hernandez pumped his first after the wire, thinking he had won the photo, it was Fev Rover ($11.10) that prevailed by the slimmest of noses over Crystal Cliffs. Flirting Bridge, who found extra life in the final sixteenth, was just three-quarters of a length back in third.

The time for the 1 1/8 miles on a firm turf course was 1:47.33.

The Canadian marked the 1,500th win for the trainer/jockey duo of Casse and Husbands.

"I can still remember the first few horses he rode for me," Casse said. "We used to ride him on the crazy ones. And when it started, everyone would ask, 'Why are you riding Patrick Husbands?' and I would say, 'Because he's a great rider,' and then it got to be 'Well, why aren't I riding Patrick Husbands?' We've had a lot of great victories over the years."

Fev Rover, bred in Ireland by Manister House Stud, is out of the winning High Chapparal mare Laurelita. The 12-year-old mare has produced three winners from four offspring to race and is the dam of a yearling filly by Invincible Army  and a weanling Dark Angel  colt.

Video: Canadian S. Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T)