Conquest Stables’ Conquest Typhoon, with Patrick Husbands, capped a dream day for his connections with an authoritative win in the $234,800 Summer Stakes for two-year-olds.
The victory in the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In event meant that the owner, jockey and trainer Mark Casse will be well represented at the Breeders’ Cup. Earlier in the card, Conquest Harlanate won the Natalma, earning herself a berth into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Friday, October 31.
The win by Conquest Typhoon, a Canadian-bred son of Stormy Atlantic-Swanky Bubbles who was purchased for a whopping $330,000 at the 2013 Keeneland Select Sale, meant the colt earned an all-expenses paid trip to California for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, also on October 31.
The victory was a lot easier than the filly’s triumph, who gutted out a neck decision. Sitting a stalking third while Samuel Dechamplain cut out early fractions of :24.08, 48.97 and 1:14.96 over a ‘good’ turf, Husbands called on his mount turning for home and with almost effortless fashion easily struck the front, going on to win by four and one-half lengths in 1:41.10. Samuel Dechamplain hung on for second, a nose in front of U S Marshall.
The Summer lost the morning line favourite, Conquest Tsunami, a stablemate of the winner, when he was scratched. It didn’t matter, as Conquest Typhoon carried the stable’s silks to the easy win, his first victory in three starts, while coming off two runner-up finishes, one in the Clarendon Stakes, and another when beaten a neck on the grass in his last.
Favoured Saratoga Dreamer, trained by Christophe Clement, was fractious in the paddock, at the gate and rank during the early running, eventually fading to last in the eight horse field.
“A couple of days ago when I breezed him (Conquest Typhoon), Mark says he wanted an easy half-mile,” recalled Husbands. “He went in 47. They said, ‘Patrick, what are you doing? I said, ‘Mark doesn’t know how good these horses are right now.’”
About his last start, when caught at the wire, Husbands said, “Last time I rode him, I looked to the left, right, (approaching the wire) didn’t see anybody. Suddenly, here’s comes Luis (Contreras, aboard Passion For Action). I tried to get him going again. He galloped out 20 lengths in front of the other horse. I said please tell Mark I screwed up.”
No screw-ups today, though, as Conquest Typhoon proved much the best. Last year, it was a filly, My Conquestadory, also owned by Conquest Stables and trained by Casse, who won the Summer.
As the 3-1 third choice, Conquest Typhoon earned $144,000 and paid $8.80, $5.30 and $3.90, combining with Samuel Dechamplain ($7.70, $5.80) for a $66.90 (5-6) exactor. A 5-6-2 (U S Marshal, $7.60) triactor returned $385.10 while a $1 Superfecta [5-6-2-7 (Less Than Perfect)] was worth $1,826.80.
Not only did Husbands win the two Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In stakes to lead all Woodbine jockeys with 18 added-money victories, he also scored three other wins on the card (Mississippi Delta in the second; Runaway Pepper in the fifth and Check Em in the 10th) to take over first place in the jockey standings with 109 wins, two ahead of Contreras. Husbands also recorded a five-pack on August 31 of this year.
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