Flipcup, under a timely ride by Luis Contreras, rallied to an impressive score in Saturday’s $158,200 Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Bill Mott and owned by Team Penney Racing, Wachtel Stable and Brous Stable LLC., Flipcup arrived at the 1 1/4-mile ‘Poly’ stake for open fillies and mares from a narrow neck score in the Classy n’ Smart Stakes on September 27.
Based in Saratoga, the New York-bred daughter of Milwaukee Brew started her career at Woodbine Racetrack with trainer Brian Lynch and now boasts a record of 4-1-1 from six starts on Woodbine’s ‘Poly’.
Academic, enjoying a remarkable sophomore season with wins in the Woodbine Oaks, Grade 3 Canadian Derby and Grade 3 B.C. Derby, set the pace in the Maple Leaf, leading a field of nine through splits of :24.34 and :48.61 under pressure from Club One Two and Midnight Miley.
Justin Stein maintained a good hold on Academic down the back straight before letting the likely three-year-old filly champion open up into the final turn as Finn’s Jewel and Flipcup, the latter picking off horses one by one from next to last, were urged into contention.
Academic maintained a length advantage turning for home, but Flipcup, full of run, angled off the rail and surged past Academic to secure a two-length win. Academic held on for place, a length in front of Dido. Flipcup covered 1 1/4-miles in 2:03.43.
“She relaxed right away. I was just trying to save ground and make one move in the stretch and she galloped out,” said Contreras.
“She’s been spectacular. We started her career here (at Woodbine) with Brian Lynch who did a great job with her as a juvenile,” said Shirl Penney of Team Penney Racing who also bred the filly. “She was bred by Milwaukee Brew, an Ontario sire, and foaled in New York. We bred her that way purposely so we could run in the Ontario-sired races here in Canada as well as in the New York races. She obviously seems to favour the synthetic here.”
Flipcup, bred in New York by Team Penney Racing, banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to 6-4-5 from 17 career starts.
She paid $16.90, $6.90 and $4, combining with Academic ($3.40, $2.50) for a $52.50 (8-2) exactor. An 8-2-7 triactor (Dido, $4.20 to show) was worth $338.40, while a $1 Superfecta [8-2-7-6 (Finn’s Jewel)] came back $1240.60. Eastern Atlantic was scratched.
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