Sam-Son Farms’ homebred Checkered Past swept past Royal Fury with a swift move to capture Saturday’s $112,600 Trillium Stakes for fillies and mares, at Woodbine.
Trained by Malcolm Pierce and patiently ridden by Eurico Rosa da Silva, Checkered Past earned her first stakes win while maintaining a perfect record in four starts travelling 1 1/16-miles over the ‘Poly’.
Sisterly Love set early splits of :23.80 and :47.33 with Moonlit Beauty and Savvy Hester keeping close watch, as da Silva settled in along the rail in fourth position with Checkered Past.
Royal Fury, who won the Trillium prep with da Silva up, made a furious rally from last to first through the turn under new rider Luis Contreras to take the lead at the top of the lane, but could not hold off the late run of Checkered Past who notched a two-length victory. Royal Fury stayed on for second money over Savvy Hester. Checkered Past stopped the clock in 1:43.29.
Checkered Past’s ability to settle was the key to victory according to da Silva.
“She broke really sharp and I was concerned she would go for the lead, but when another horse passed her she relaxed beautifully,” said da Silva. “When we turned for home it was very hard to hold her as I had a lot of horse.”
The Trillium victory marked a first stakes score for Checkered Past who finished a closing second in the Jammed Lovely Stakes last season when competing at the top level for the first time.
“She deserved to win a stake,” said da Silva. “Last year, seven eighths (in the Jammed Lovely Stakes), was too short for her and she galloped out so far in front that day. Today she got her stake win and that’s great.”
Checkered Past banked $72,000 in victory while improving her career record to 4-3-1 from nine starts.
She returned $9.30, $4.70 and $3.40, pairing with Royal Fury ($4.10, $3 for a $29.60 (1-2) exactor. A 1-2-5 (Savvy Hester, $6 to show) triactor was worth $159.20. Sisterly Love completed a $1 Superfecta (1-2-5-6) worth $197.45.
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