Way to Versailles, Pink Lloyd Win Graded Sprints
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Photo: Michael Burns
Way to Versailles wins the Royal North Stakes at Woodbine
In a heart-pounding fight to the wire, Mahamoud Pootoolal's Way to Versailles secured her first graded win in the $175,000 Royal North Stakes (G2T) July 29 at Woodbine.
Way to Versailles was one of 10 older fillies and mares entered in the Royal North, the first of two six-furlong sprint stakes on the Sunday card. Breaking from post 6, the 4-year-old Tizway filly was guided to the outside by jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva and settled in sixth as pacesetter Kasuga led the field through a half-mile in :44.59.
Angled out as the pack came to the top of the stretch, Smiling Causeway moved up the rail to claim the lead by a head. Rallying on the far outside, Way to Versailles was urged to the front under a determined drive to challenge Smiling Causeway. The pair hit the wire in 1:08 flat.
After a review of the photo finish, Way to Versailles was named the winner by a nose. Smiling Causeway was awarded place honors, and Lull, the even-money favorite, took third.
"She was very happy coming from behind," da Silva said. "She was very relaxed and there for me when I needed her. Today she showed speed. … She's there for you. She's a wonderful filly and runs very focused."
Sent off at odds of 9-1, the winner returned $21.20, $9.30, and $4.40.
Way to Versailles entered the Royal North off a 2 1/2-length victory in a seven-furlong optional-claiming allowance July 8. While her path to the winner's circle has been a somewhat elusive quest, Way to Versailles has turned in consistent efforts on both the turf and the all-weather track. Racing exclusively at Woodbine, the 4-year-old has never finished worse than fifth in 10 starts.
"She's been running really well this year," said trainer Kevin Attard. "I talked it over with Mahamoud, and obviously we were going to try and get her some black type. What can you say? She's a black-type winner. (Eurico) rides her well. We've gotten her to relax this year, and she's been a little more versatile than she normally is, and it seems to be working fine."
Bred in Florida by Farm III Enterprises, Way to Versailles was purchased for a modest $16,000 from RiceHorse Stables' consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sale June 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale. She is the first graded stakes winner for her dam, Belle a Versailles, and improved her record to 4-2-1, with $197,666 in earnings.
Video: Royal North S. (G2T)
Only 21 days after having his 11-race winning streak snapped with a third-place finish in the Shepperton Stakes, Pink Lloyd was back in top form with a repeat win in the $125,0000 Vigil Stakes (G3) over the synthetic track at Woodbine.
The 6-year-old and reigning Canadian Horse of the Year broke well under da Silva, settling in fourth as Yorkton set fractions of :22.11 and :44.93 through a half-mile.
But as they headed into the stretch, it was all over. With characteristic ease, Pink Lloyd kicked into high gear on the outside, and the chestnut gelding crossed the wire two lengths ahead of his competition in 1:09.26.
"Last time, I take the blame," said da Silva of Pink Lloyd's finish in the Shepperton. "I made a wrong decision and I went to the lead. This horse, he's a super horse. Today he was running relaxed. When you need him, he's there for you. The post position (6) really helped, but he was very quiet inside the gate today. He was very, very relaxed."
Yorkton held for second, followed by Jacks Escarpment, 2 1/4 lengths behind in third. Circle of Friends, Sweet Grass Creek, and Sweet Romance completed the order of finish.
"We weren't really going to run him in this race, but he was so good this week, we had to run him," said Hall of Fame trainer Bob Tiller, who had trepidations about running the champion older male after he spiked a fever two days after the Shepperton.
"At the end of the day, he's a great horse. He's a joy and we're blessed to have him, and he's a great gift from God. We love him."
Bred in Ontario by John Carey, Pink Lloyd has a career record of 15-1-1 in 18 starts, with earnings of $894,639.