Stacked Deck Holds in Bold Venture

Bruce Lunsford's homebred Stacked Deck held off 2014 Bold Venture Stakes (Can-III) winner Calgary Cat with a determined drive and claimed his first graded score Sept. 13, winning this year's edition of the $150,000 test at Woodbine.

Essence Hit Man, the 2013 Bold Venture winner, set the pace through a quarter in :22.55 for the 6 1/2-furlong test on the all-weather track, while Stacked Deck and jockey Luis Saez put on steady pressure to his outside hip.

As a half went in :44.80, Stacked Deck ranged up to take the lead, but 3/5 favorite Calgary Cat was charging hard after closing from the back of the four-horse pack. 

Three-quarters went in 1:08.60 with Calgary Cat hooking up in a stretch duel with the winner, who would not be denied. 

The 4-year-old First Samurai   gelding held by a gritty neck to finish in 1:14.75, returning $9.30 at odds of 7/2. With the field scratched down from six to four runners, there was no place or show wagering.

"(Usually) Calgary Cat just runs over people, so I was very proud of the horse," Lunsford said. "His half brother is a War Front (colt) that's going to be at (the) Keeneland (September yearling sale) tomorrow. I'm going from here to there, so hopefully he added a couple bucks to the price."

The War Front   colt is Hip 109, consigned by Claiborne Farm, agent.

After the finish there was a stewards' inquiry and claim of foul due to Stacked Deck drifting out in the stretch, but following a review, there was no change.

Following Stacked Deck and Calgary Cat came Puntrooskie. Essence Hit Man was eased and got a ride home in the horse ambulance.

Stacked Deck was bred in Kentucky out of the Smart Strike   mare Bel Air Beauty, and won for the sixth time from 14 starts. He rebounded from a sixth in the Aug. 23 Play the King Stakes (Can-IIT) on turf at Woodbine with his return to the synthetic track, but has won on both surfaces.