Toronto, ON – Jockeys Patrick Husbands and Chantal Sutherland got out of the gates in strong fashion on Opening Day at Woodbine, winning three and two races, respectively, on Saturday at the Toronto oval.
Husbands, who took the Woodbine riding title and netted his sixth Sovereign Award as Canada’s top rider in 2008, won the second race with Talk Fast, the day’s featured race, the $100,000 La Voyageuse Stakes, aboard Mullins Beach, and the ninth with True Vindication.
After taking the first race with Flashy N Classy, Sutherland, who won 89 races, 12 stakes, at the Toronto oval in 2008, guided Silver Pizzazz to a rallying score in the seventh race for trainer Audre Cappuccitti.
Eurico Rosa Da Silva, Emile Ramsammy, Constant Montpellier, Steve Bahen and Todd Kabel also rode winners on the card.
On the trainers’ side, Malcolm Pierce and Ross Armata each notched two wins. Pierce won the La Voyageuse with Mullins Beach and the ninth with True Vindication. Armata’s first score came with Moon Ruckus in the fourth and I’m A Moon Too took the eighth.
Anne Cameron, Michael Pino, Pat Parente, Mike Doyle and Tony Mattine also collected victories on the 10-race programme.
The largest-priced winner on the day was Kasablanca Express, who paid $49.30 in the day’s fifth race.
Woodbine’s 167-day racing meet continues Sunday. Post time is 1:00 p.m. The season concludes December 6.
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