Paso Doble won the $125,000 New Providence Stakes for the second time in three years with a smart stalking trip to close out the Victoria Day weekend, at Woodbine.
Trained by Mark Casse for owner Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc., Paso Doble came into the six furlong stake off a nose defeat to Executive Five in the prep for the New Providence.
Eurico Rosa da Silva, who picked up the mount on the seven-year-old Bold n’ Flashy gelding when Patrick Husbands was injured earlier on the card, settled Paso Doble into a comfortable stalking position on the rail as Royal Egbert led the field down the backstretch.
Royal Egbert set splits of :22.58 and :45.13 but came under pressure turning into the stretch as Paso Doble angled off the rail and surged into the lead.
Sorry About That and Executive Five tried, but failed, to collar Paso Doble who ran out a 1 1/4-length winner in a final running time of 1:09.81. Sorry About That edged Executive Five for place.
Allowing the speedy Paso Doble to relax was always part of the plan for da Silva.
“Mark (Casse) told me to try to relax him and that’s what I did,” said Casse. “He broke really sharp, he could have gone to the lead today, but I left him alone and he relaxed very well for me. In the turn, I had a lot of horse.”
The speedy chestnut won this event in 2011 and narrowly missed repeating in 2012 when defeated less than a length by Gypsy Ring.
Paso Doble banked $75,000 in victory, while improving his record to 9-9-5 from 36 career starts.
He returned $5.50, $3.60 and $2.60, pairing with Sorry About That ($9, $5.90) for a $66.60 (4-9) exactor. A 4-9-8 (Executive Five, $4.90 to show) triactor was worth $168.25. Haverhill completed a $1 Superfecta (4-9-8-2) worth $478.90. Jenna’s Wabbit was scratched.
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