Rideforthecause, rallying from next-to-last in the field of eight, launched a relentless run around the final turn under rider David Moran and blew past 4-5 favorite Cambier Parc for a convincing four-length score in Saturday’s $286,000 Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association at Woodbine Racetrack.
Trained by Gail Cox, Rideforthecause was notching her first stakes win while making her 10th career start in the Grade 2 Canadian, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares.
“I had a great trip,” said Moran, who was recording his second win in the Canadian after picking up the mount on successful 2012 English invader Barefoot Lady.
“She settled back there nice and relaxed,” said Moran, who was biding his time as Another Time and Amalfi Coast dueled through fractions of :23.80 and :46.55.
“I got a nice inside move just past the three to the two-and-a-half (poles), and just got myself in a good position to take on Raffi (jockey Rafael Hernandez, aboard Cambier Parc).
“And when I felt her picking up and kicking by him, I said, ‘Oh, we have a shot to win this!’ and she kept going very gamely.”
Rideforthecause was in front by a half-length through a mile in 1:32.75 and stopped the clock in 1:45.
Cambier Parc, coming off back-to-back Grade 1 stakes wins but making her first start in 11 months for trainer Chad Brown, sat a nice trip just outside the pacemakers and was moving for the lead as they hit the six furlongs in 1:09.49.
Although no match for the winner, the New York shipper was 2 ¼ lengths clear of Court Return for third money.
Court Return, the longest shot on the board at 30-1, trailed through the early stages but closed well for third money, 2 ¾ lengths before fourth-place Elizabeth Way.
Bold Script, Art of Almost, Another Time and Amalfi Coast rounded out the order of finish. Theodora B and Runway Dreamer were scratched.
“This filly loves this distance,” said Cox, who conditions the four-year-old Rideforthecause for owner/breeder Sam-Son Farm. “I think she’s run really well this year, she had one race where she was sort of too close to the pace and didn’t run the greatest but she’s a tough filly. She just hasn’t had the opportunity to get the distance very often.”
“She gets a little bit wound and [having her secluded] seems to work really well for her.”
“She had me a little bit nervous, but she definitely sustained it (her rally).”
Moran agreed that getting Rideforthecause to settle was a key to victory.
“She was a little bouncy (before the race) but once we got behind the gate and took her back there, she was actually very relaxed,” said the jockey. “That might have just made the difference with her right there.”
Rideforthecause was notching her fourth career victory after knocking out her third allowance condition in her last start.
The daughter of Candy Ride and Danceforthecause returned $47.20, $14.50 and $9, and combined with Cambier Parc ($3.20, $2.70) for a 4-10 exacta worth $147.80. Court Return ($8.90) completed a 4-10-2 trifecta worth $1,654.90 and Elizabeth Way bottomed a 4-10-2-3 superfecta of $2,959.90 for $1.
More from Horses:
