Sir for Sure Gets Redemption in Breeders' Stakes
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Photo: Michael Burns
Declan Carroll guides Sir for Sure to victory in the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine.
It was sweet redemption for the connections of Sir for Sure , who closed the curtain on this year's OLG Canadian Triple Crown with a command performance in the Oct. 2 $400,400 Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine.
After a forgettable experience in the Prince of Wales, second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, where Declan Carroll fell off the son of Sligo Bay -Serena's Rose, by My Way Only into the first turn, the jockey took to Twitter soon after and shared, "We will live to fight another day."
On a beautiful autumn afternoon at Woodbine, Carroll and Sir for Sure lived up to those words.
Gaston , who hadn't run in either the Queen's Plate or Prince of Wales, broke alertly and was joined by Duke of Love , winner of the latter race, on the front end, while Sir for Sure was eighth of nine through an opening quarter of :24.94 in the 1 1/2-mile test over a firm E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
The lead pair were still tussling on the front end through a half in :49.09, as Carroll maintained a patient hand on the Plate Trial winner, the duo running comfortably in seventh.
It was Gaston on top by a head after a mile, keeping that advantage after a mile and a quarter. Sir for Sure, sixth choice in the betting at 6-1, began to pick up the pace, and was a menacing presence in third.
A half-length in front at Robert Geller's stretch call, Sir for Sure began to power away from his rivals as fellow Mark Casse trainee Hall of Dreams , second in the Queen's Plate, came with a strong late run along the rail.
Sir for Sure, bred and owned by René and Darlene Hunderup, was a 2 1/4-length victor. Hall of Dreams completed the Casse exactor, while Lac Macaza was third. Dancin in Da'nile finished fourth but was relegated to seventh for interference in the stretch, elevating Gaston to complete the top four.
The final time was 2:28.88.
Kathryn Sullivan, assistant to Casse, was thrilled to see the bay gelding, third in the Plate to Moira , back on track.
"It's so exciting," said Sullivan. "I'm almost in tears. I'm so proud of him. It was great to get him to come back and be able to run the race. That's all you want, is just your horse to go out there and run the race. And he got to do that today and we got to see how good he is. It's wonderful.
"These owners are so wonderful. They do everything. They're in the stalls mucking. They're so hands-on. Just a great win for them. So proud of Declan. He rode a great race. And I'm really proud of our other horse who was second. It was so exciting."
Casse added a third Breeders' Stakes victory to his name. The dual Hall of Fame conditioner also won with Marchfield in 2007 and in 2018 with Neepawa. Owned by Heste Sport, Sir for Sure was bred by Norse Ridge Farms.
Sir for Sure paid $14.80, $6.30 and $4.40, combining with Hall of Dreams ($3.80, $3.20) for a $47.30 exactor. The triactor with Lac Macaza ($4) returned $230.80. A $1 superfecta with Gaston came back $493.85.