Sam-Son Farm’s homebred colt His Race to Win swooped last to first to capture Sunday’s co-featured Grade 3 $178,500 Seagram Cup, at Woodbine.
Trained by Malcolm Pierce, the bay son of Stormy Atlantic-Fleet of Foot raced last of six as Ultimate Destiny set slow early splits of :25.08 and :49.72 in the 1 1/6-miles ‘Poly’ route.
Sky Captain, who spotted the field lengths after missing the break, was urged into contention down the backstretch racing four-wide outside of the pace pressing trio of Alpha Bettor, Pender Harbour and Peyton.
Sky Captain loomed large at the top of the lane, but His Race to Win, patiently handled by Eurico Rosa da Silva, angled out at the top of the lane and was full of run en route to a 1 1/4-length score. Sky Captain won a place photo over Peyton. His Race to Win covered 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.35.
It was the second graded stakes score for His Race to Win who captured the Grade 3 Ontario Derby a year ago in a similar rallying effort with da Silva in the irons.
Da Silva wasn’t too concerned about the lack of early pace in the Seagram Cup.
“He was running very relaxed and when I picked him up at the quarter pole, he kicked very strong,” said da Silva.
His Race to Win showed promise as a juvenile finishing third to stablemate Up With the Birds in the Coronation Futurity. As a three-year-old, the bay finished second, by a nose, to Dynamic Sky in the Plate Trial before finishing sixth in the Queen’s Plate.
“I think he’s still going to improve,” said da Silva. “When he was a two-year-old, I loved this horse and I’m so happy to see him winning stakes now.”
The victory marked the sixth stakes win of the season for Pierce.
“I was worried about the pace early too, being last after a slow half, but the horse was on his game today,” said Pierce.
His Race to Win banked $108,000 in victory while improving his record to 5-3-3 from 16 starts.
He paid $16.10, $6.80 and $4.30, combining with Sky Captain ($4.20, $2.90) for a $64.90 (3-5) exactor. A 3-5-4 (Peyton, $7.50) triactor was worth $465.60.
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