Leigh Court Speeds to Whimsical Victory
Image:
Description:
Photo: Michael Burns
Leigh Court wins the Whimsical Stakes.
Speedway Stables' Leigh Court led the way and won the $150,000 Whimsical Stakes (Can-III) by two lengths April 10 at Woodbine.
The 6-year-old Grand Slam mare, the 3-5 favorite, finished the six furlongs on the all-weather track in 1:08.88 with Florent Geroux at the reins. Galina Point finished second, a neck in front of third-place finisher Skylander Girl.
Leigh Court was pressed by Green Doctor through a :22.28 opening quarter before pulling clear into the turn. Opening up by three lengths into the stretch, she was never threatened en route to victory under a strong hand ride.
Geroux believes a quick start was the key factor, as Leigh Court took her third graded stakes win.
"She broke very sharp today. Sometimes she has a tendency of breaking a step slow or flat footed," said Geroux. "Today, she broke very alertly, and I was able to make the lead very nice and comfortable. We know she can be very tough when she can be on the lead like this and able to relax. She gave me a very nice turn of foot at the quarter pole. (She was) very strong."
Trained by Mike Stidham, Leigh Court paid $3.30 and $2.10, and Galina Point returned $3.20. There was no show wagering.
Bred in Kentucky by Eugene Melnyk from the French Deputy mare Padmore, Leigh Court was Canada's 2013 champion 3-year-old filly. She was sold for $1 million to Speedway Stables at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton November sale, where Taylor Made sale consigned for Melnyk. She has a 9-4-0 record from 17 starts that includes a 2014 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland, and 2013 Ontario Colleen (Can-III) and 2014 Seaway (Can-III), both at Woodbine.