Bear Stables’ Part the Seas, ridden by Justin Stein, charged home on the outside to take the co-featured $104,800 Avowal Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.
The Avowal, a seven furlong contest over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, brought together a highly-competitive group of eight fillies and mares, including a mild favourite, Why Katherine.
Dene Court led from the start over the firm turf, clicking off fractions of :23.02, 46 seconds flat and 1:09.9 and was still in front mid-stretch until giving way grudgingly to Part the Seas, who had rallied from the back of the pack, as Sca Doodle looked for a seam between them.
At the wire, it was Part the Seas, trained by Mike DePaulo, by three-quarters of a length, with Dene Court hanging on for second by a neck over Sca Doodle, in 1:22.41.
It was the first start for Part the Seas in Bear Stables’ colours since being claimed for $62,500 out of her last effort, a close third place finish to No Explaining and Queen of the Waves on August 3. Thus, an instant return on the investment, to the tune of $60,000 as the winner’s share while winning her first added-money event.
“(Owner) Danny Dion has two studs now, this filly is stakes-placed a few times and we were hoping to win a stake with her,” explained DePaulo. “We had this race in mind.”
“She’s a nice filly. I got to work her a few times before she ran today,” said Stein. “To be honest, I thought I would be sitting a little more forwardly. She settled into the race, though, and was really relaxed. I was a little bit concerned but I just let her do her thing. When I asked her to punch, she kicked hard, ran them down and kept on going.”
Favoured Why Katherine faded to seventh, while the second choice, Queen of the Waves, was a non-threatening fifth.
As the third longest shot on the board at 8-1, Part the Seas, a four-year-old Sam-Son Farm Ontario-bred by Stormy Atlantic-Go Marching Thru, paid $18.70, $7.80 and $5.20, combining with Dene Court ($6.90, $3.90) for a $133.80 (3-6) exactor. A 3-6-2 (Sca Doodle, $6.70) triactor returned $1,710.10 while a $1 Superfecta [3-6-2-5 (Swift Artist)] rewarded backers with a $4,454.95 payoff.
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