Phil’s Dream, last year’s Sovereign Award winner as Canada’s outstanding male sprinter, sprinted up the rail to win Monday’s Victoria Day feature, the $125,000 New Providence Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Paul Buttigieg for his Buttigieg Training Centre, Phil’s Dream was bet down to 3-5 in the field of seven Ontario-sired runners and ran to his odds under regular pilot Justin Stein covering six furlongs in 1:09.25.
Jenna’s Wabbit set the pace marking splits of :22.85 and :45.23 with Paso Doble, Phil’s Dream, Sorry About that and Langstaff, from the rail out, tracking in earnest. Jenna’s Wabbit took the field to the top of the lane but Stein spotted an opening and scooted up the rail with Phil’s Dream to win in hand by 1 3/4-lengths. Sorry About That won a three-horse place photo over Paso Doble and Sniper.
Renowned for being sharp in the morning often posting bullets on the work tab, Phil’s Dream seemed surprisingly sleepy pre-race.
“He was really relaxed on post parade, taking it all in,” said Stein. “It made me a little nervous how quiet he was, but maybe he’s a year older and a little wiser.
“I just wanted to make sure he felt like he did in the morning, that early stride in his works where he starts galloping along. That’s what I looked for today and he really had that turn of foot when he turned for home.”
The six-year-old Philanthropist gelding finished second his seasonal debut, at short odds, defeated three-quarters of a length by New Providence rival Citius going five and a half furlongs on the ‘Poly’.
That result did not cause Stein any angst ahead of Monday’s feature.
“I just don’t think it was his distance,” said Stein. “He galloped out forever today and I think he has a lot of possibilities in his future.”
Phil’s Dream won seven of 10 outings in his five-year-old campaign, including the Overskate, Grade 1 Nearctic and Ontario Jockey Club stakes en route to banking $537,910.
With his score in the New Providence, Phil’s Dream banked $75,000 while improving his career record to 9-3-2 from 16 starts.
He returned $3.30, $2.30 and $2.10, pairing with Sorry About That ($6, $3.80) for a $14.60 (3-5) exactor. A 3-5-1 (Paso Doble, $3.50 to show) triactor was worth $70.60. Sniper completed a $1 Superfecta (3-5-1-4) worth $126.15.
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