Golden Hawk Lands Woodbine's Grey Stakes

Live Oak Plantation's homebred Golden Hawk remained undefeated in two starts and completed a sweep of Woodbine's 2-year-old stakes this weekend for trainer Mark Casse with a win in the Oct. 9 Grey Stakes (Can-III). 

Breaking from post 4 in the compact field of five, the Kentucky-bred Tapit   colt was away alertly but was pressed by Han Sense on the inside heading into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile Grey. Patrick Husbands was taking no chances, however, and let Golden Hawk take charge heading into the backstretch while carving out fractions of :24.51 and :48.60.

"With a small field, you don't want to get trapped on the first turn," Husbands said. "So I just let him run away from there, and he just pricked his ears. I had everything my way."

Han Sense had held his position on the rail, and while King and His Court and Night Watchman took runs at the leader around the far turn Husbands had yet to call on Golden Hawk and the colt kicked away to a 5 1/4-length victory.

Golden Hawk led through six furlongs in 1:12.85 and was in full control though the mile in 1:37.12. The final time was 1:43.38 on the all-weather track.

Han Sense won the place battle over King and His Court by a half-length with Night Watchman and Preemptive Strike completing the order of finish.

The victory completed a big weekend for the Casse outfit at Woodbine, where the trainer's Gale Force won Saturday's Mazarine (gr. III) for juvenile fillies. Casse also lifted the Keeneland's Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 2-year-olds Oct. 9 with Keep Quiet.

Golden Hawk ($3.20) is out of the Gone West mare Gone Purrfect, a full sister to champion sprinter and Central Kentucky sire Speightstown  . Golden Hawk won his debut, at seven furlongs on the turf, Sept. 4 at Woodbine, defeating the experienced and promising Woodbridge by a head.