Thatlookonyerface Upsets Marine at 32-1

Dominion Bloodstock and Barry Butzer's Thatlookonyerface split rivals in the shadow of the wire to win a photo over Bear'sway in the $150,000 Marine Stakes (Can-III) May 14 at Woodbine. 

Trained by David Cotey, Thatlookonyerface left the gate at 32-1 in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta route for 3-year-olds that featured Riker, Canada's champion 2-year-old male of 2015, and recent Wando Stakes winner Bear'sway.

Thatlookonyerface, by Summer Bird, graduated in a maiden claiming route race Nov. 14 at Woodbine in his penultimate juvenile start, then closed the campaign with a fourth-place run in a six furlong allowance sprint. 

He arrived at the Marine from a difficult effort in the Wando, when he checked in the backstretch, rallied to finish fourth, and placed third through disqualification.

Riker, reunited with regular rider Jesse Campbell, led the way in the Marine, setting splits of :22.49 and :48.59 as the 7-5 favorite. Bear'sway left from the inside post in the field of six under leading rider Eurico Rosa da Silva, before angling off the rail down the backstraight to press Riker's early foot.

Thatlookonyerface, patiently handled by Gary Boulanger, saved ground from fifth position as Riker took a precarious lead through the turn with Bear'sway, Greatest Game, and Dragon Bay all looming large. 

Bear'sway eventually wore down a determined Riker, but it was Thatlookonyerface who angled off the rail and then found a seam between the tiring pacesetter and a stubborn Bear'sway to earn a narrow nose score.

Greatest Game completed the trifecta, a nose back of Bear'sway, while just a neck in front of Dragon Bay. The final time was 1:45.14.

Boulanger wasn't certain he had the race won.

"I didn't know," Boulanger said. "We were battling. The horse was trying, I was trying, and then we pulled up and (Woodbine outrider) Rob Love said, 'I think it's you.'

"He settled more today. Last time we got in quite a bit of trouble down the backside. This time we had a clear trip. He showed me a lot of character last time."

The Marine marked the first stakes score of the season for both Boulanger and Cotey. The veteran rider, a winner of five added-money events in 2015, was full of praise for his mount's brave effort.

"I didn't have much choice where to go," Boulanger said of the eventful stretch run. "Eurico floated out a bit and then he started coming back in, and that was the only place I had. Thank God he had enough courage to go in there. He fought all the way to the wire. Today was our day."

Thatlookonyerface, bred in Kentucky by Sun Valley Farm, banked $90,000 in victory and improved his record to 2-0-1 from eight starts.

 

The winner paid $66.70, $13.40, and $4.80, combining with 5-1 Bear'sway ($4.80 and $3.10) for a $364.60 exacta. Greatest Game brought $2.60 to show.