Eugene Melnyk’s Glenville Gardens broke his maiden in fine style with a front-running score in Saturday’s $132,250 Display Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Josie Carroll, the dark bay son of Street Cry-Navy Gardens arrived at the 1 1/16-miles ‘Poly’ stake for juveniles from a pair of runner-up performances.
Glenville Gardens was second on debut to well-regarded Conquest Boogaloo in the Swynford Stakes on September 7 and subsequently finished second, defeated a head by Display rival Sea to Sea after a troubled trip in an October 4 maiden allowance.
Luis Contreras took no chances in the Display putting Glenville Gardens to the front through splits of :24.27 and :49.01 with Hollywood Critic and Sea to Sea tracking his early pace.
Bourbon Cowboy and Sea to Sea took aim on the leader through the final turn, but Glenville Gardens kicked on at the top of the lane and pulled away to a comfortable 2 3/4-length score. Hollywood Critic rallied for second money over Sea to Sea.
Glenville Gardens covered 1 1/16-miles in 1:45.45.
Contreras was pleased to make amends for the troubled trip last time out when he lacked running room at the top of the lane when closing from last in a field of seven.
“I rode him overconfidently that day. I thought the hole was there, but I waited a little too long,” said Contreras.
The Display Stakes marked the first time the talented two-year-old raced as a front-runner.
“He broke good and I took the lead and set the pace I wanted. By the quarter pole, I had so much horse he was gone,” said Contreras.
Glenville Gardens, bred in Kentucky by his owner, banked $75,000 in victory while improving his record to 1-2-2 from three starts.
He returned $5, $2.70 and $2.30, pairing with Hollywood Critic ($3, $2.80 for a $12.90 (5-6) exactor. A 5-6-2 (Sea to Sea, $2.70 to show) triactor was worth $37.10. Takeitdowntheroad was scratched.
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