Maiden Conquest Titan Overpowers Swynford
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Odds-on pick Conquest Titan, with Eurico Rosa da Silva in the irons, broke his maiden in style at Woodbine Aug. 24 in the $119,552 Swynford Stakes for 2-year-olds .
Sent postward at 4-5, Conquest Titan, a Mark Casse trainee owned by Conquest Stables, went to the front shortly after the start of the seven-furlong feature, cranking out fractions of :23.37 for the opening quarter and :46.50 seconds for the half.
After being briefly challenged by Tuscan Getaway on the far turn, Conquest Titan responded to open up by several lengths on his six pursuers, then drew off down the lane under a hand ride to win by 5 1/4 lengths in 1:23.64 over the Polytrack.
Dig Alittle Deeper, the longest shot on the board at 33-1, closed for second, nosing out Tuscan Getaway. Ria Antonia, the only filly in the field, wound up fourth.
Conquest Titan, a son of Birdstone –Miner's Secret, by Mineshaft , pocketed $71,445 for the win as he begins the journey to earn his way out after being purchased for $475,000 earlier this year at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. 2-year-olds in training sale. Michael Edward Connelly bred the winner in Kentucky.
He debuted as the 4-5 choice in a six-furlong maiden event at Churchill Downs June 30, but after setting some blazing early fractions, faded to fourth behind highly-regarded juveniles Candy Dandy and Dunkin Bend.
"I worked him a couple of times and Mark has been working very hard to relax him," Da Silva said. "We teach him how to come from behind horses. And he was doing very well in the morning. But Mark said, 'Try to relax him but if he's the speed in the race, play it by ear.'
"He was running very, very relaxed (while on the lead). He ran beautifully. He just went for a breeze. He has a beautiful stride."
Last year, Casse won the Swynford with Uncaptured, who went on to take Sovereign Awards as Canada's top 2-year-old male and Horse of the Year. On three other occasions, Casse has won the Swynford, with Turf War in 2007, Added Edge in 2002, and Exciting Story in 1999 the latter two also winning Sovereigns as divisional champions.
Conquest Titan paid $3.60, $2.90, and $2.50, combining with Dig Alittle Deeper ($13.80, $5.50) for a $64.20 exacta. Tuscan Getaway paid $3.90 to show.