A big card of racing on August 20 ushered in a huge weekend at Woodbine which will culminate with the 163rd Queen’s Plate on Sunday at Woodbine. Rain has fallen through the evening and is supposed to occur throughout the day, which will be warm and muggy.
Just to whet the appetite of racing fans and horsepeople, the two stakes races on Saturday, the Soaring Free Stakes and Catch a Glimpse, both for 2-year-olds, were exciting sprints.
The wild win by Ontario-bred PHILIP MY DEAR in the Soaring Free was so exciting for jockey Kazushi Kimura, only recently back from injury, that he inadvertently let an expletive fly in his post-race interview with Jeff Bratt (video below).
And why not? Philip My Dear split horses with an incredible late burst to win the Soaring Free for Raroma Stables’ Raj Maharaj and trainer Kevin Attard. The son of Ontario stallion Silent Name (Jpn) out of the City Zip mare Involuntary came into the stakes race off a maiden win in which he also came from far off the pace with a spirited run.
It was Poulin in O T, undefeated in his first two starts, who sped to the front, as Ninetyfour Expos and outsider Battle Strike kept close tabs on the leader through an opening quarter timed in :22.85. Kazushi Kimura, aboard Philip My Dear, was positioned in eighth of 10 in the early going.
Poulin in O T was still on the lead at the half, reached in :45.77, a head in front of a persistent Ninetyfour Expos, with Chiseler now in third.
As the field geared up for the long stretch drive to the wire, Philip My Dear and Kimura (who returned to action after a July spill) had plenty of work to do, sitting eighth at the stretch call in 1:10.03.
The pair was able to muscle their way between foes in the late strides and went on to record a three-quarter length win in a time of 1:16.31 over firm ground. Smoke Lightening, at 62-1, was second, while Stayhonor Goodside and Chiseler finished third and fourth, respectively.
Maharaj purchased Philip My Dear, named for a song by Mighty Sparrow, for $100,000 at the Keeneland September sale from breeder Adena Springs.
The colt is the second foal to race of Flaming Page Stakes winner Involuntary, who earned over $208,000 in her career.
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Trainer Nathan Squires, whose only other stakes wins in his career were a pair of events at Fort Erie in 2021, won the biggest race of his career with CAIRO CONSORT, who won the Catch a Glimpse Stakes, also in dramatic fashion.
Cairo Consort, contesting her first stakes race, was full of run along the rail in the stretch, powering to an impressive win in the Catch a Glimpse to notch her second straight score.
Grand Oak (IRE) set the early tone, guiding her 11 rivals through an opening panel of :22.87. Antonio Gallardo, aboard Cairo Consort, kept a patient hand aboard the daughter of Cairo Prince-Absolutely Awesome, the duo sitting in seventh after a half in :45.71.
As the field came off the turn and straightened for home, Cairo Consort grabbed a short lead at the stretch call, going on to a 2 ½ length score in a time of 1:16.00 over firm ground. Adora was second, Collecting Flatter finished third, with Grand Oak fourth.
Squires bought Cairo Consort (Cairo Prince – Absolutely Awesome by Street Cry (Ire) for $95,000 for longtime client William Thompson Jr. at the Fasig Tipton October sale last fall. The filly’s unraced dam is a half sister to millionaire Awesome Maria.
“Any race is special to win, but when you go to the sales or breed them or you pick them out, or help pick them out, it’s extra special it’s a great feeling,” said Squires.
The grey, owned by William B. Thompson, Jr., is now 2-0-1 from four starts. She broke her maiden in her previous start on July 23.
“She was always smart,” offered Squires. “She is getting better and better, and I think she’ll even be a better 3-year-old. We have to [look at running her in the Natalma]. She beat good company here today. I was just looking at her and screaming. Of course, if she’s healthy, we have to look at the Natalma. I think she will fit there.”
Sent postward at 9-2, Cairo Consort paid $11.20 for the win.
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