Never Retreat captured Sunday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine.
The Chris Block trainee stalked the front-running War Tigress down the backstretch making the half in a swift :48.37. Mekong Melody, who won the 2010 edition of this event, followed that duo closely along with No Explaining and Stars to Shine. The favoured Bay to Bay, who defeated Never Retreat to win the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes at Woodbine last out, drafted behind horses from sixth position waiting for the signal from Woodbine’s leading rider Luis Contreras.
Turning for home, War Tigress was swallowed up by a cavalry charge of horses as Never Retreat, under a confident ride from jockey Shaun Bridgmohan, assumed the lead and put away a game Mekong Melody with plenty in reserve for a one and a quarter length win. A rallying Bay to Bay was up for place, half a length in front of Mekong Melody. Miss Keller, Canada’s champion turf female in 2010, put in a late rally to complete the superfecta.
Never Retreat, a daughter of Smart Strike traveled 1 1/8 miles over “firm” going in 1:46.48, after early fractions of :24.87, :48.37 and 1:11.34.
The Team Block colour-bearer wouldn’t be denied as her rivals attempted to reel her in down the long E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
“She’s a filly that’s so relaxed sitting off of horses and when she made the lead she was looking around for competition,” said Bridgmohan. “I switched sticks left-handed and she gave me what I needed.”
Bridgmohan never doubted his chances as he steered the consistent performer to her ninth lifetime score.
“She’s such an honest filly and she broke sharply and wanted to put herself in the game. She’s an old pro. She does everything right and I just felt I was a winner because she was so comfortable at every point that I just let her do her thing,” said Bridgmohan.
David Block, part of the Team Block ownership group, was on hand at Woodbine to witness their star filly’s performance.
“The biggest asset for this filly is that she’s a class act,” said Block. “Nothing bothers her, she can do anything. In the final analysis, she never retreats.”
Never Retreat is now a three-time winner in 2011, including scores in the Grade 3 Honey Fox at Gulfstream and the Grade 2 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland, to go along with two seconds and a third from seven starts.
She returned $10.10, $4.40 and $3.30, combining with Bay to Bay ($4.30, $3.40) for a $40.30 (5-6) exactor. A 5-6-10 (Mekong Melody, $4.10) triactor was worth $226.30.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
