J.R. Racing Stable’s Go Greeley made all the fractions to notch his first stakes win in Saturday’s $140,000 Colin Stakes, at Woodbine.
Go Greeley, a dark bay son of Horse Greeley trained by John Ross, was an impressive maiden winner at first asking, and just missed last time out after a troubled start when defeated a nose by Spin the King in the Clarendon Stakes.
Tuscan Getaway was quickest from the gate in the six furlong juvenile ‘Poly’ sprint, but Go Greeley soon took command marking an opening quarter in 22:13 with heavily favoured Conquest Two Set stalking from third position.
Go Greeley, piloted by Eurico Rosa da Silva, led the field into the turn as Conquest Two Step and Enthrone were urged into contention.
However, there was no catching the leader who notched the half in :44.96 and turned back Conquest Two Step, a well-regarded maiden winner at Churchill Downs, for a 2 1/2-length win. Go Greeley stopped the clock in 1:10.19.
Da Silva was surprised to find himself on the lead.
“I thought we would be fifth or sixth, maybe last,” said da Silva. “There was a lot of speed in the race, but when they opened the gate he was happy where he was, so I just let him run and he ran wonderful.”
Go Greeley showed great determination to fend off Conquest Two Step, a $420,000 purchase at Ocala’s April two-year-olds in training sale.
“He was all game today,” said da Silva. “He was very focused. He put himself there, on the lead, but he was very relaxed and he was running very fast.”
Go Greeley banked $90,000 in victory, while improving his record to 2-2-0 from three career starts.
He returned $9.60, $3 and $2.30, pairing with Conquest Two Step ($2.10, $2.10) for a $16 (3-5) exactor. A 3-5-2 (Tuscan Getaway, $3.80 to show) triactor was worth $80.10. Enthrone completed a $1 Superfecta (3-5-2-7) worth $180.20.
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