Favoured Paso Doble, ridden by Patrick Husbands, took over from pacesetter Daniel Be Good turning for home, then fended off a late challenge from Dancingall Theway by a length to win the featured $125,000 New Providence Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine.
Now trained by Mark Casse for Centennial Farms, Paso Doble, a five-year-old gelded son of Bold n’ Flashy-Dance Lessons, was winning his second race in a row in impressive fashion, getting the six furlongs in 1:09.18. Don’s Folly wound up third, one and three-quarter lengths further back, while Daniel Be Good was fourth.
Named for Canada’s first winner of the Triple Crown in 1959, the New Providence, an Ontario Sires Stake, was being contested for the 30th time and drew a field of eight, including defending champion Dancingall Theway.
But it was Daniel Be Good and jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva who set a blistering pace while being chased by Dancingall Theway and Paso Doble, getting the opening quarter in :22.56.
Paso Doble took up the challenge as the half was reached in :45.23 and quickly opened a length after straightening away in the stretch, before repulsing the late charge from the runner-up.
“He’s trained as well as any horse can train,” said Casse. “Watching him train all winter long, I said, ‘This is a good horse’ and I think he’s been a little bit of an underachiever. I said if the real ‘Paso’ comes out, he’s going to be a horse to be dealt with.
“I think the ‘rating’ (off the pace) has really helped him. We learned something there (a seventh place finish in the Debut Stakes on April 2, when finishing seventh in his 2011 opener). This horse passed horses, something he’d never done before. So we’ve tried to build on that. It’s working so far.”
Last year, while under the care of Sid Attard for all but one start, Paso Doble campaigned consistently well, earning over $112,000, finding the winner’s circle once, via disqualification. He was also fourth to Dancingall Theway in last year’s New Providence.
With the $75,000 cheque to the winner, Paso Doble upped his career bankroll to over $400,000, while taking his sixth win in 24 career outings.
Sent postward a slight 2-1 choice over last year’s Sovereign Award winner Sand Cove, Paso Doble returned $6.60, $3.90 and $3.10, combining with Dancingall Theway ($5.10, $4.10) for a $30.40 (2-1) exactor. A
2-1-4 (Don’s Folly, $3.20) triactor came back $94.70, while a $1 Superfecta [2-1-4-5 (Daniel Be Good)] was worth $154.15.
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