Dun Drum, rallying from last place at the quarter pole, finished strongly to prevail by a going-away 1 1/2 lengths under Emma-Jayne Wilson in Saturday’s $100,000 Vice Regent Stakes at Woodbine.
The Vice Regent, for Ontario-sired three-year-olds, was run over one mile of the inner turf course and went with a field of seven.
The stakes win was the sixth of the meeting for jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson and the third for trainer Ian Black.
“I think Ian had the horse in tip-top shape today,” said Wilson, who has ridden Dun Drum through his nine-race career.
“The key to me was the early fractions. I didn’t want to get hung wide on this course. I wanted to get up and into position so I could save some ground.
“It worked out where the pace moved away from him, even though he got a nice position early. He then settled back. I knew by the way he was travelling under me down the backside, if I pulled the trigger and went, he has going to get them. He ran them down today, as I thought he would.”
North Battleford and Victor’s Dynasty were the first to show in the Vice Regent, and duelled through an opening quarter with the latter holding a head lead in :23.53.
Victor’s Dynasty had moved to the front and held a half-length margin through a half in :47.22 with Ari Gold Speedwagn and King Causeway in close attendance.
It was King Causeway by a head as the six furlongs went by in 1:11.76, and Lucas n’ Lori had moved strongly from last place to loom a danger.
King Causeway led by a half-length at the stretch call, with Lucas n’ Lori threatening, but Dun Drum was in high gear and snared the leaders for a convincing score in 1:37.55.
Holding gamely, King Causeway was second, a neck to the good of Lucas n’ Lori, with 4-5 favourite Ari Gold Speedwagn another 2 ¼ lengths back in fourth.
Seguimi, North Battleford, and Victor’s Dynasty rounded out the order of finish. Hungary was an early scratch.
Dun Drum was bred by Joan Addison and John Carey and races for Addison, Janet Black (wife of the trainer) and Barbara Brown. The Bold ‘n Flashy gelding was recording his second stakes win, having taken the Kingarvie for Ontario-sired two-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta last year, and his fourth overall victory.
Dun Drum was Ian Black’s second winner in the Vice Regent. Rahy’s Attorney was his first in 2007 and went on to upset the following year’s Woodbine Mile.
Returning $13.30, $5.90 and $3.70 as the second choice, Dun Drum keyed an 8-4 exacta with King Causeway ($10.60, $5.70) worth $96.70. The $1 trifecta with #7 Lucas n’ Lori ($3.30) came back at $219.95 and Ari Gold Speedwagn bottomed a $1 superfecta worth $429.95 for the 8-4-7-5 combination.
Live Thoroughbred racing resumes at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday, featuring the $100,000 Belle Mahone Stakes. First race post time is set for 1:05 p.m.
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