G T Five Hundred rallies in Thorncliffe Stakes
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Toronto, May 3, 2026— Winter-raced G T Five Hundred, rallied gamely and was up in the final strides to win Sunday’s $100,000 Thorncliffe Stakes at Woodbine.
Breaking from post position 3, the 6-year-old gelded son of Astern (AUS), settled comfortably in third, as favoured Poulin in O T and Scorching dueled at close range through an opening quarter mile in 21:62.
Around the bend Scorching (inside) and Poulin in O T (outside), continued their personal match race hitting the top of the lane together, having traveled the opening half-mile in 44:39. Inside the three-sixteenths pole, Rafael Hernandez, Canada’s reigning and 2-time Sovereign Top Jockey, took aim at the leaders, closing stoutly on the outside to prevail in a blanket finish, by a neck over Scorching, who finished a half-length in front of Poulin in O T.
"I sat behind the speed horses and I knew they would come back to me,” said Hernandez.
This horse I've been working and I like him too, I asked for a turn of foot and he showed up today."
The winner may have tipped his hand on April 18th, with a 4-furlong breeze over the Woodbine main track in :47 flat, best of 136 workers that morning.
Formerly trained by Michael Maker, G T Five Hundred, made his local bow a winning one for new conditioner Dale Desruisseaux and new owners Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc.
"We've had him about 6-7 weeks now, pretty straightforward horse,” said Desruisseaux, who said the bay Kentucky-bred could next target the Grade 3-Jacques Cartier on May 30th at Woodbine.
"Today we were a little worried, I think his best distance is six, six and a half where he doesn't half to hustle so much for the first quarter. I think he likes to be more forwardly placed than he was today.”
Go Kart Mozart unseated rider Sofia Vives during post parade, was quickly caught by outriders and was a late stewards scratch.
"When Go Cart (Mozart) scratched, I was worried that Poulin was going to be loose on the lead,” said Desruisseaux, “But luckily we got another pace pressure and it worked out."
Post race, the rider of Poulin in O T filed an objection with the stewards against Scorching, alleging interference. The stewards determined there was insufficient evidence to warrant a change in the order of the second and third place finishers and no action was taken.
The Thorncliffe score made the well-traveled G T Five Hundred an 11-time winner from 41 starts and improved his synthetic record to a sterling 6 wins in 8 career starts over the all-weather surface.
The five-furlong time in this event for 4-year-olds and up was :57:43 and the final running time was 1:04:64.
G T Five Hundred opened at 2-1 on the morning line, went off at said odds and paid $6.70 for the win.
Phil McSween, Woodbine
