Lucky Score upsets in Grade 2 turf Highlander / Tyson shows late punch to take Grade 3 Dominion Day / Fev Rover (IRE) rallies to take Grade 2 turf Nassau
TORONTO, July 1, 2023 – Lucky Score, trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse, scored top prize in Saturday’s $200,000 Highlander Stakes (G2T), at Woodbine.
It was a cavalry charge for the lead in the six-furlong turf sprint for 4-year-olds and up contested over a firm E.P. Taylor Course, with Cadamosto (IRE), Outlaw Kid and mutuel choice One Timer tussling for top spot. Cadamosto (IRE) emerged with a short advantage through an opening quarter in :22.01 as Outlaw Kid, in the middle, and One Timer, to the outside, continued to apply pressure after a half in :44.24.
Rounding the turn for home, One Timer emerged with the lead and attempted to draw from his rivals, but graded stakes-placed Oceanic and graded stakes winner Lucky Score soon came calling, and began their own battle to the wire, with the latter prevailing by a half-length in a time of 1:07.86. One Timer, who arrived on a two-race win streak, was third, and Old Chestnut finished fourth.
“He’s a horse that comes off the pace,” said Sahin Civaci, who one race earlier piloted Casse trainee Solo Album to victory in the $150,000 Selene Stakes (G3). “It takes him a while to get rolling and luckily there was a lot of speed up front today so that helped a lot. It was just about finding the right position and a clear path getting to the wire before they get there.”
It was the sixth career victory in 15 starts for the 5-year-old son of Lookin At Lucky-Miss Matzo, owned by Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, and Pantofel Stable LLC.
“I had a lot of horse,” noted Civaci. “I just needed to get after him a little bit and I saw that the six (Oceanic) was fighting back. He kicked on and he fought good, so we got up front.”
Bred in Ontario by James Everatt, Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse, Lucky Score won his first race since last September when the bay gelding rallied to take the Vigil (G3) over the Woodbine Tapeta.
Souper Dormy, Outlaw Kid, Masseto (GB), Striker, and Cadomosto (IRE) rounded out the order of finish. Silent Poet was scratched.
Lucky Score paid $30.60.
Tyson shows late punch to take Grade 3 Dominion Day
TORONTO, July 1, 2023 – Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll delivered a one-two punch with winner Tyson and runner-up Treason in the $150,000 Dominion Day Stakes (G3), on Canada Day Saturday at Woodbine.
Last time out, Tyson finished third to stablemate Treason in the Eclipse Stakes (G2). On this day, the tables were turned in the 1 1/8-mile main track feature for 4-year-olds and up.
Graded stakes winner War Bomber (IRE) left from the inside gate, but drifted over to the middle of the Tapeta, with Carrothers and Artie’s Storm sitting second and third, respectively, through an opening quarter in :23.73, as Tyson sat sixth of nine.
Carrothers was a head in front of War Bomber (IRE), with Duke of Love third after a half in :47.63, while Rafael Hernandez kept a patient hand aboard Tyson, who was seventh.
As the field came off the turn for home, Treason shook loose and stormed to the front, but Tyson was also rolling to the far outside, and the pair locked horns down the lane with Tyson eventually getting by a determined Treason to earn a 1 ½-length triumph in a time of 1:48.32, just a shade off the track-record mark of 1:48.24 set by Global Access in 2019.
Gaston was third, followed by War Bomber (IRE), Artie’s Storm, Golden Glider, Duke of Love, Novo Sol (BRZ) and Carrothers.
Carroll, who won the 2021 edition of the Dominion Day with two-time Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart, gave full marks to Tyson.
“Tough trip for a great big horse,” said Carroll. “He’s got a great big, long stride of a horse. He’s in tight, he’s in trouble, he’s getting shuffled around, he just keeps sitting and sitting until he can get him out of there. Everything that could go wrong with him went wrong.”
Bred and owned by Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc., and Stretch Run Ventures, LLC, the lightly-raced 4-year-old son of Tapit-Honouring is now 3-0-1 from four career starts.
The Kentucky-bred colt won his first two starts, including his career bow on March 4, 2022, over 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream main track.
“When he got out [today], he just fired,” praised Carroll. “He was closing strongly in his last stakes, and I really expected a big race from him today. He’s been waiting for the chance to use that big stride and he just takes off.”
Tyson returned $10.30 for the Dominion Day win.
Fev Rover (IRE) rallies to take Grade 2 turf Nassau
TORONTO, July 1, 2023 – Fev Rover (IRE) provided trainer Mark Casse with a Canada Day graded stakes hat trick after winning the one-mile $175,000 Nassau (G2T) Stakes for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, Saturday afternoon at Woodbine.
Making her fourth consecutive start on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Fev Rover (IRE) watched from mid-pack as longshot Sister Lou Ann grabbed the early advantage. Scotish Star (ARG) sat second with Sweet Enough (GB) positioned third and 4-5 choice Moira fourth through an opening panel over yielding turf in :24.34.
It was status quo among the top four after a half in :48.50, while Patrick Husbands, aboard Fev Rover (IRE), was unhurried at the back of the pack in ninth.
Poised to the outside in seventh entering the turn for home, Fev Rover (IRE) got her cue and responded with an explosive turn of foot, striking front and then holding a half-length lead at Robert Geller’s stretch call.
At the wire, the 5-year-old daughter of Gutaifan (IRE)-Laurelita (IRE) was 4 ¼ lengths in front of Moira, who finished 1 ½ lengths ahead of Millie Girl. Devil’s Bit was fourth.
Eminent Victor, Scotish Star (ARG), Purrfect, Sweet Enough (GB) and Sister Lou Ann rounded out the field.
The final time was 1:40.03, the result of a heavy downpour in the leadup to the race.
“I was on the best side of the track on the wide outside and those guys keep on rolling, rolling, rolling,” said Husbands. “My horse enjoyed it on the wide outside. I’m just thinking just cut corners, cut corners, then open her up.
“You get to ride good horses, they make you look good. You can do what you want to do. The race went well for me and I’m happy for Mark and the owner.”
Bred by Manister House Stud, the bay mare, who endured a rough trip in her previous race, when she finished fourth but was elevated to third in the E.P. Taylor (G1T) in October, is now 4-4-2 from 15 starts.
Owned by Tracy Farmer, Fev Rover (IRE) paid $9.10 for the win.
Casse took three of the five Woodbine graded stakes on Saturday. Earlier in the card, Solo Album romped in the $150,000 Selene (G3) and Lucky Score won the $200,000 Highlander (G2T). He also won the fourth race with Queen Judith.
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms
