Passion for Action Rallies in Jacques Cartier

Ben Hutzel sent out his homebred Passion for Action in the opening day feature at Woodbine April 9, and the colt rewarded him by rallying from last to win the $143,000 Jacques Cartier Stakes. Eurico Rosa Da Silva, the track's leading rider in 2015, was aboard for the victory.

 

Trained by Mike DePaulo, the Ontario-bred son of Speightstown   entered the gate for the six-furlong sprint over the newly installed Tapeta main track with a pair of sixth-place efforts during the winter at Gulfstream Park.

 

The Jacques Cartier was reduced to six horses with the early scratch of Commute and scratch at the gate of race favorite Stacked Deck, who was named Canada's champion sprinter on the eve of the card.

 

Hootenanny, winner of the 2014 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. I), broke well from the gate and set the early tempo under pressure from Hammerstein as the opening quarter mile went in :22.48.

 

French Quarter, with Justin Stein up, surged up the rail down the backstretch and took a short lead into the turn through a half-mile in :45.52.

 

Da Silva, waiting patiently at the back of the pack, pushed the button on Passion for Action late in the turn and rolled wide down the lane to overtake the 4-5 favorite Hootenanny for a 2 1/4-length win. Sorry About That was third.

 

Passion for Action stopped the clock in 1:09.75.

 

The winning effort did not surprise Da Silva, who took home 2015 Sovereign Award as Canada's outstanding rider after winning 201 races.

 

"He broke well and positioned himself comfortably. I was very confident in him, because I work this horse in the morning and he was giving me a very good feeling," said Da Silva. "I came with a lot of confidence. He was travelling last, but only three lengths behind. When I asked him, I put him outside in the clear and he just took off from there."

 

Da Silva enjoyed taking his first stakes score over the new synthetic main track.

 

"This track is beautiful. The horses go over it very easily," said da Silva.

 

Hutzel echoed Da Silva's sentiments.

 

"I love the track. I love the horse. I love him on the turf and anywhere from six furlongs to a mile. Maybe that's what we're shooting for, the Woodbine Mile (Can-IT, Sept. 17)," said Hutzel.

 

Passion for Action, who is out of the Stormy Atlantic   mare Maritime Passion, banked $90,000 in victory while improving his record to 4-3-1 from 13 starts.