Toronto, ON – El Brujo, a three-year-old son of Candy Ride, won his first added-money event and third career race, taking the $150,000 Achievement Stakes in authoritative fashion, Saturday at Woodbine.
With Patrick Husbands in the irons, El Brujo, in his seventh lifetime start, dueled between several rivals through opening fractions of :22.01 and :44.73. Around the final turn, El Brujo, bred and owned by Windways Farm Limited and trained by Malcolm Pierce, kicked into another gear and went on to an 8 ¾-length victory.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the bay stopped the teletimer in 1:09.21 for six furlongs over the Polytrack. My Bad, one of three Nick Gonzalez starters, finished second, while last year’s Clarendon Stakes winner, Bucephalus, rallied for third.
Sally Pierce, wife and assistant trainer to Malcolm Pierce, was pleased with the performance of the Ontario-bred, who will now garner even more attention as the road to this year’s Queen’s Plate (June 21) intensifies. “He’s just come back terrific,” she said, of the gelding that has three wins, three seconds and one third. “He certainly was ready. We’re excited.”
Husbands, who won the 1999 Achievement with Sir Lloyd and the 2007 edition with Legal Move, was confident throughout the race. “I didn’t want to take a chance and get stopped behind (someone),” said Husbands. “I let him do everything on his own. He showed he was the best. He went fast. He was doing it easily and I didn’t want to disappoint him.”
Pierce is hopeful El Brujo, listed as the fourth choice (12-1) in the Queen’s Plate Winterbook, builds off his impressive 2009 debut. “He’s very relaxed, composed and focused. He’s done everything right and he’s matured.”
El Brujo made his debut on June 8, winning by a head at 4 ½ furlongs on the Woodbine Polytrack. Prior to Saturday’s win, he had finished second in three stakes (Clarendon, Vandal and Coronation Futurity) and third in the Swynford.
He paid $3.60, $2.40 and $2.20, combining with My Bad ($5.50 and $3.40) for a $19.60 exactor. Bucephalus ($3.20) capped off a $75 triactor.
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