Ironstone Sizzles in Clarendon, Marie MacKay Upsets Shady Well Stakes

IRONSTONE (Mr. Speaker – Casey’s Dreamin, by Unbridled’s Song) coasted to victory in the co-featured $150,000 Clarendon Stakes, presented by HBPA of Ontario, Friday at Woodbine.

Ademar Santos piloted the grey colt to his second straight stakes score and once again, the juvenile did it with the greatest of ease.

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Sent off as the 1-5 choice in the race for Ontario-bred two-year-olds, Ironstone was sent to the front and established a lead of a half-length after a quarter timed in :22.88. The advantage grew to two lengths after a half in :45.56.

From there, it was simply matter of how much the winning margin would be.

At the wire, the William Armata trained colt was six lengths ahead of his nearest rival, Silent Runner. Silent Resent was third.

The final time was 1:03.53.

“He was just very sharp,” praised Santos. “He broke sharp and he just wanted to go. He took the lead and I slowed him down pretty good. So, when the horse [Bossy Holiday] came to him, it was easy… I just moved my hands and he took off.”

Ironstone paid $2.50 for the win.

It was déjà vu for the winning connections, who came into the Clarendon off a dominating 8 ½-length triumph in the 6 ½-furlong main track Simcoe Stakes on August 29 at Woodbine.

“He’s a good horse, and every time he runs and when he works, he gallops out phenomenal,” said Armata. “There’s nothing more you can ask from this guy. He’s just given us everything we’ve asked for.”

Bred in Ontario by Kingsview Farms, Ironstone, owned by Tequesta Racing Inc. and Jupiter Leasing Co., launched his career with a runner-up effort in June and was fifth in his next start.

MARIE MACKAY led every step of the way in the $150,000 Shady Well Stakes Presented by Pepsi, Friday at Woodbine.

The Dan Vella trainee broke running and immediately seized control of the 5 ½-furlong race for Ontario-bred juvenile fillies. She took her five rivals through early splits of :22.82 and :45.73 en route to a 2 ¼-length triumph in 1:04.03.

“I was given a heads-up that she’s really, really quick,” said winning rider Justin Stein. “She’s definitely up there with the quickest I’ve ridden. She gets her feet under her right away and she’s running. You just kind of stay out of her way a little bit and hang on. We just let her run her race.”

Aubrieta, the 4-5 choice, trained by Mark Casse, recovered from an awkward start and rallied to finish second, while Ya Mar, also a Casse trainee, was third.

Marie MacKay, second choice at 9-2, paid $11.10 for the win.

Bred and owned by Track West Racing and Donald Whalen, the daughter of Noble Mission was second to Aubrieta in her career bow on September 11, also a 5 ½-furlong Tapeta race.

It was one of the most crowded winner’s circles for a stakes race seen at Woodbine in several years:

PLEASECALLMEBACK got his first win since he was a juvenile at the right time. The four-year-old by Hard Spun took the final leg of the TURF ENDURANCE SERIES on Friday, rolling to a 4 3/4 length win in the 1 3/4 mile race after trailing a wild pace set by Grade 1 placed Primo Touch.

Pleasecallmeback was crowned this year’s Turf Endurance champion and in doing so, earned bonuses for trainer-owner, dual Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, courtesy of a trio of impressive performances throughout the Woodbine series.

Pleasecallmeback earned 24 points to top the table in the three-leg event. The gelding was coming off two narrow losses in the last two legs of the series and has been second eight times in his career. But the way the final leg set on Friday it was his day. Primo Touch, recently third in the Canadian International simply tore off to a 20-length lead early in the long grass race, set tough pace fractions, and then stopped on the final turn.

Bred in Ontario by Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry, the dark bay gelding paid $6.10 to win, in what was his first victory of the campaign. In 21 career starts, Pleasecallmeback back has a record of 2-8-2.

Mambointheforest ($161.10 to win) took the first leg over 1 3/8-miles on the inner course. Taos (FR), at 4-1, took the 1 ½-mile second leg, also on the inner, for trainer Kevin Attard.

A total of $22,500 in bonuses were awarded to the top three finishers, with the winning owner and trainer – in this instance, both being Attfield – receiving $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.

Taos was second in the point standings with 18. Mambointheforest recorded 16 points to place third for trainer Ron Sadler.

~ with files from Woodbine Communications