Jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva capped off a big weekend of racing guiding O’Kratos to victory in the $125,000 Marine Stakes (Grade 3) for three-year-olds on Sunday afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack.
Da Silva completed a sweep of this weekend’s stakes as he also guided Pink Lloyd to the gelding’s 10th successive score earlier on the card in the New Providence Stakes and was aboard Saturday’s Star Shoot Stakes winner Sly Beauty.
In the Marine, the popular Darwin Banach-trained supplemental entry O’Kratos tracked Queen’s Plate eligible Inge in second-place through fractions of :24.15, :48.16 and 1:12.60 before taking command entering the stretch and holding off Machtree, who rallied inside through the lane from last to place. The 9-5 favourite prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:43.90 going 1-1/16 miles. Aheadbyacentury, also prepping for next month’s Queen’s Plate, came in third while Archaggelos edged out Inge in a photo for fourth.
Da Silva noted his mount was a little bit keen going into the first turn before relaxing and then digging in at the end while noticing Machtree at the rail.
“Luis [Contreras aboard Archaggelos] I think tried to make his horse on the bridle and he was chirping and then my horse got a little bit upset, but then he settled down pretty good in the first turn,” said Da Silva. “From there, he was running very focused. I took a shot to make him run a little bit early because he was so relaxed and Darwin gave me the confidence. He said, ‘Eurico, if nobody goes to the lead, just let him go. He’s ready for you.’ I took a shot and he ran a beautiful race.
“I could not be more grateful to ride for Darwin. He’s been a good friend of mine for a long time and a great trainer. This guy does everything for the horse, loves the horses and I just love to be part of his team.”
Trained by Banach and owned by Terdik Farms and Partners, O’Kratos now has back-to-back wins at Woodbine and is three-for-six lifetime. The Paddy O’Prado-Speightsy Heart colt was bred in Kentucky by Dr. H. Steve Conboy.
“I know we were coming back in two weeks and coming off of that seventh-eighths race he was pretty sharp,” said Banach. “He’s been training like a bear every morning and we’ve just been trying to get him to relax. We had him out this morning for a little jog and little tour in the paddock and we’re just trying to keep him focused and as settled as we can. Eurico did a great job getting him to relax a little bit in the first turn and he got a nice trip, which it hasn’t been that way for him in a couple of races.”
O’Kratos returned $5.90, $3.20 and $2.40. He combined with Machtree ($4, $3.50) for a 2-1 exacta worth $24.50. A $1 trifecta of 2-1-7 (Aheadbyacentury, $4.20) paid $78 and a $1 superfecta of 2-1-7-3 (Archaggelos) returned $239.70. Inge, Rose’s Vision, Tale of Vienna and Eskiminzin completed the order of finish.
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