Valedictory Distance Just Right for Turkish

Favored Turkish gave longtime owner Lawrence Cordes an early Christmas gift when he held on to win the marathon-distance Valedictory Stakes (Can-III)  on closing day of the 2014 meet at Woodbine.



"It's my first stakes win in 45 years in the business," a happy Cordes remarked after winning the $148,071 event. Cordes, along with trainer Tino Attard, claimed the strapping 5-year-old Turkish out of a Woodbine turf race Sept. 27 for $40,000. With Emma-Jayne Wilson in the irons, Turkish also landed his first stakes win.



Turkish took the lead rounding the final turn of the 1 3/4-mile Polytrack event and dug in despite weakening in the final furlong to defeat a driving Royal Blessing by a neck while timed in 3:02.09.



Royal Blessing, ridden by Justin Stein, was disqualified by stewards for interfering with third-place finisher Pender Harbour in the stretch run. Pender Harbour, ridden by Luis Contreras, was elevated to second with Royal Blessing placed third.



A son of Istan   bred in Kentucky by Brereton C. Jones, Turkish is out of the Pleasant Tap mare Tresor. The eye-catching chestnut gelding has won five of 21 career starts, and three of those victories have come in his past five starts. He was coming off an 11-length romp over allowance foes going 1 5/8 miles over Woodbine's Poly.

"He really seems to have come into himself," said Wilson, who has ridden Turkish to all three of his recent wins. "Every time I ride him, three-eighths of a mile out I just get him going. He's so big and so long, it takes a while to get his feet. As long as you give him a nice trip and get him moving, he's tough to catch.

 

"I will admit he was getting a little tired in that last eighth of a mile, but he held on courageously and I'm really proud of him."



The race unfolded perfectly for 5-2 pick Turkish, who settled just off the pace in third early as Marathon Run took the early lead. However, Marathon Run went wrong on the first turn after leading the opening quarter mile and was pulled up in apparent distress after dropping back.



Quiet Country inherited the lead with Turkish camped on his outside and kept in the clear by Wilson as they made their way through six furlongs in 1:17.12, a mile in 1:45.01, and 1 1/4 miles in 2:11.27. A patient Turkish continued to track the 23-1 leader into the final turn until given his cue approaching the quarter pole in 2:34.64. Turkish glided to the lead to take a two-length lead into the stretch over Quiet Country and second choice Manighar.



Royal Blessing, advancing from sixth on the turn, swept past Pender Harbour in close quarters in the drive, resulting in his disqualification when Pender Harbour was forced to steady. Royal Blessing, three lengths behind Turkish at the furlong marker, was all out late while unable to get to the determined winner, who held under a steady drive.



The Valedictory victory was the third for Attard, who won the race in 2001 with Queensgate and in 1991 with Cozzene's Prince. Wilson won the long-distance test for the second time in three years, following the Paul Attard-trained Heathcote in 2012. It was her third Valedictory win overall.



Turkish previously raced for trainer Reade Baker and Jones. Carrying 115 pounds, he extended his career earnings to $273,407.



The winner paid $7.30, $4, and $3.20, keying a $29.90 exacta with Pender Harbour, who returned $4.50 and $3.50. Royal Blessing paid $4.30.



Desvelo was nosed out for the show spot, and was followed by Cozy Kitten, Manighar, Bingo Kitten, and Quiet Country. Marathon Run was vanned off.