Bill Farish, Jr.’s Pool Play rallied with authority to take the $177,400 Valedictory Stakes, the final added-money event of Woodbine’s 2010 thoroughbred season.
The five-year-old son of Silver Deputy drew off late to defeat 2009 Queen’s Plate champ Eye of the Leopard by three-quarters of a length. Brandon Meier landed third money with Helicopter.
Trained by the meet’s leading conditioner Mark Casse, Pool Play covered 1 3/4 miles, the longest stakes event of the season at the Toronto oval, in 3:01.42.
Under a well-timed steer from Patrick Husbands, Pool Play advanced five-wide on the final turn, dueled briefly in mid-stretch with Eye of the Leopard and stayed on strongly for his second straight score and fifth lifetime tally. “His prep, when (Luis) Contreras rode him, I told Mark (trainer Casse) to take the blinkers off and he’d be a better horse,” said Husbands, referring to Pool Play’s three-length victory on November 6.
“We had a really nice trip today and when I called on him in the stretch, he gave his all for me. I really respect Mark for giving me the call back on him,” said Husbands. “I want to thank Mark and all his owners for riding me this year.”
Bred in Ontario by Windfields Farm, Pool Play boosted his earnings to $547,391 from 24 career starts.
Pool Play returned $3.90, $2.80 and $2.10, combining with Eye of the Leopard ($3.90, $2.80) for a $13.90 exactor. Helicopter ($3.50) rounded out a $37.30 triactor. A $1 superfecta returned $74.45.
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