Conquest Pacemaker made his added-money debut a winning one with a stirring front end score in Sunday’s $131,500 Toronto Cup, at Woodbine.
Trained by Mark Casse for owners Conquest Stables LLC., the Eskendereya-Heart Rate chestnut arrived at the 1 1/8-mile turf stake for three-years-olds from an impressive 2 1/2-length maiden allowance win on July 11 in just his second lifetime start, while racing in similar front-running fashion under Patrick Husbands.
With Husbands committed to Casse entrant Flashaway, Eurico Rosa da Silva took over aboard Conquest Pacemaker for the Toronto Cup and sent the chestnut to the lead through an easy quarter in :24.68 with Decision Day stalking his early foot.
Conquest Pacemaker led the compact field of seven to the far turn with Decision Day and U S Marshal converging as trailers Lucky Lindy and Indebted were urged into gear by Robby Albarado and Julien Leparoux respectively.
Da Silva opened up a 2 1/2-length lead at the top of the lane under some urging as Conquest Pacemaker quickened away, while keeping plenty in reserve to stay off the final thrust of Lucky Lindy for a 1 1/2-length win. Conquest Pacemaker covered 1 1/8-miles in 1:46.08.
A $150,000 purchase at the 2014 March Sale of Selected Two-Year-Olds in Training, Conquest Pacemaker proved full value for his connections with the flashy win.
“Mark Casse’s team does a great job and this horse was ready to run,” said da Silva. “He just took the lead and was running very easy. He was very comfortable.”
Da Silva wasn’t concerned about the late rush from Albarado and Lucky Lindy.
“I still had a little bit more horse to fight on at the end. He was running very strong. It’s hard to catch a horse when they increase and increase their speed,” said da Silva.
Conquest Pacemaker, bred in Kentucky by Marion G. Montanari, banked $75,000 in victory while improving his record to 2-0-1 from three starts.
He paid $21.30, $8.30 and $5.80, combining with Lucky Lindy ($4.70, $3.40) for a $91.70 (6-2) exactor. A 6-2-8 triactor (Flashaway, $3.40 to show) was worth $407.70, while a $1 Superfecta [6-2-8-7 (Decision Day)] came back $1173.25. Street Tail was scratched.
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