Eugene Melnyk’s Roxy Gap got back to her winning ways, taking Saturday’s $150,000 Fury Stakes at Woodbine by three-quarters of a length.
The three-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie now has four wins from five starts and stamped herself as a major contender for the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, on June 5.
She came into the Fury off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Old Hat at Gulfstream Park on January 5, after starting her career with three consecutive scores, including a triumph in the 2010 Shady Well Stakes.
Trained by Mark Casse and ridden by Patrick Husbands, Roxy Gap, the 2-5 mutuel favourite, seized control with an impressive turn of foot as the field turned for home and then held off late-charging Marketing Mix, who took second. Bingo, also trained by Casse, was third.
“She’s really funny,” said Casse, of the Ontario-bred bay.
“This is the first time Patrick has ridden her and he said that you have to ride her the whole way. That’s the way she is. She’s very laid-back. She does what she has to do.”
Husbands echoed Casse’s thoughts.
“As Mark said, you have to keep her in the game. When she hit the front, I tried to get her over to her right lead, but she wouldn’t.
Then she responded. It’s an honour to ride a good horse.”
Hoi An and Bingo set the early tone, taking the field through early fractions of :23.45 and :46.49. The final time for seven furlongs was
1:22.95 on the Polytrack.
Casse was pleased with the effort of Roxy Gap, who was a finalist for last year’s Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion two-year-old filly.
“We’re going to try and get to the Oaks,” offered Casse. “Not sure how we’re going to do it yet. We’ll go back, regroup and I’ll talk to Eugene.”
Dreamy Moonlite and Spooky Kitten were scratched.
Roxy Gap paid $2.90, $2.10 and $2.10, combining with Marketing Mix ($2.70, $2.10) for a $4.70 exactor. Bingo ($2.50) rounded out a $16.20 triactor.
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