Some of the top Canadian-bred two-year-olds took centre stage Sunday at Woodbine in the 79th running of the $250,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes.
But at the finish, it was the highly-regarded and widely-touted Conquest Enforcer, with jockey Patrick Husbands, who demolished his 11 rivals effortlessly, winning off by six and three-quarter lengths in the mile and one-sixteenth historic turf event, in a final time of 1:43.17.
A $210,000 yearling purchase by Conquest Stables, the son of Into Mischief-Keen Victory, bred by Ivan Dalos’ Tall Oaks Farm, had debuted in the tough Grade 2, one mile turf Summer Stakes on September 12, but finished fourth, almost six lengths behind stablemate Conquest Daddyo, who earned a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf October 30 at Keeneland by virtue of the win.
Said Husbands, “We worked him about two months ago on the turf. I came back and said to (trainer) Mark (Casse), he’s a pretty nice horse. But he never got a chance to get back on the turf (in training). The last race, it was a soft, soft, soft turf and he was never comfortable. So, we just had to put that race behind. When we got the daylight today, he showed he was the best horse in the race. It’s an honour and a pleasure to sit on good horses. They always make you smile.”
In the Cup and Saucer, Conquest Enforcer, who went postward the lukewarm 3-1 favourite, sat a patient third on the rail, while longshot Gigantic Breeze and Shakhimat dueled on the front end through fractions of :23.62, :47.34 and 1:12.18, over a ‘good’ E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
However, when the field turned for home, it was just a question of whether Husbands would find a seam between the pacesetters. Wheeled off the rail and splitting rivals, Conquest Enforcer exploded when the opening occurred and the race was essentially over.
Butterfly Dance, who briefly took over in mid-stretch before the ‘Enforcer’ got through, was second, while Shakhimat was another two lengths back in third.
It was the fifth Cup and Saucer win for Husbands and the third for Casse. Together, they also teamed to win the 2012 renewal with Star Contender.
Conquest Enforcer, who picked up $150,000 for the win, paid $8.60, $4.60 and $3.50, combining with Butterfly Dance ($7.40, $5) for a $59 (2-8) exactor. A 2-8-5 (Shakhimat, $5) triactor was worth $395.20, while a $1 Superfecta [2-8-5-11 (Hammers Vision)] came back a healthy $1,768.80.
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