Stronach Stables’ Don Cavallo seized control just after the half-mile mark and then strode away with ease to take Friday’s Grade 3, $201,600 Dominion Day Stakes at Woodbine.
For the Roger Attfield-trained son of El Prado, the performance was his second score (along with two seconds) in five 2011 starts. It was also his first victory at a classic distance of 1 1/4 miles.
Don Cavallo, who now has five wins from 13 career races, finished a comfortable 3 ¾-lengths in front of James Street. Stately Victor, who took last year’s Ontario Derby at Woodbine, finished third.
A four-year-old Kentucky-bred, Don Cavallo stopped the teletimer in 2:03.47.
The Dominion Day was the chestnut colt’s fourth triumph in five tries at Woodbine. He won three consecutive races at the Toronto oval last year, including a seven-furlong turf contest.
Leading rider Luis Contreras, fresh off a Queen’s Plate victory with filly Inglorious, won his colony-best tenth stake of the campaign and earned rave reviews from Attfield.
“He did a great job riding him, didn’t he?” said Attfield. “I could tell down the backside how easily and strongly he (Don Cavallo) was going. He’s a very nice horse. I was very pleased with him and the ride today.”
Don Cavallo entered the Dominion Day off a strong second-place finish to Fifty Proof in the Grade 3 Eclipse, ending up a half-length behind in the 1 1/16-mile ‘Poly’ feature on May 28.
He returned $7.20, $4.30 and $3.10, combining with James Street ($6.90 and $4.90) for a $55.50 exactor. Stately Victor ($3.90) rounded out a triactor worth $298.10. A $1 superfecta was worth $533.65.
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