Interpol Springs Upset in Northern Dancer
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JMJ Racing Stables' Interpol struck the front at the top of the stretch and held off a late-closing drive from 2013 New Zealand Derby (NZ-I) victress Habibi to win the $339,400 (U.S. $255,874) Northern Dancer Presented by HPIBet (Can-IT) Sept. 13 at Woodbine.
It was the first grade I win for 4-year-old English Channel colt, as well as for his jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson, who also guided Interpol to his first graded victory last time out in the Sky Classic (gr. IIT) for trainer Sid Attard Aug. 16 at the Toronto track.
"I was so relaxed today, honest to God. I wasn't nervous—most of the time I get really, really nervous, you know?" Attard said. "I wasn't worried about the soft going, I wasn't worried about the distance. He'll go all day long; the farther he'll go, the better for him. And I said to Emma, 'Today he's going to be right there, don't worry about nothing.' She's so confident on this horse. She loves him, and she only rode him twice."
Off at odds of 10-1, the pair cut the first quarter in :26.13 but were content to settle second behind Danish Dynaformer for a :52.28 half. Interpol took command exiting the final turn while clocking the mile in 1:43.18 and 1 1/4 miles in 2:08.08, and held on to win by half a length. Habibi, the only female in a field of nine, closed from the back of the pack, weaving through traffic to make a bid on the rail, but could not get to the wire in time. Triple Threat finished three-quarters of a length back in third.
The final time for the 1 1/2 miles was 2:33.56 on yielding turf.
Interpol returned $22.60, $10.50, and $6.90 while Habibi brought $15.50 and $8.90. Triple Threat was worth $5.40, while Lucky Speed, Oil Strike, Danish Dynaformer, Ami's Holiday, Aldous Snow, and Glenard completed the order of finish.
Interpol was bred in Ontario by Richard Lister out of the Strawberry Road mare Adel, and was a $90,000 purchase from the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall yearling sale in 2012 when consigned by Cara Bloodstock.