Ruth Less Blue went gate to wire to take Saturday’s co-featured $150,000 Vandal Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Scott Fairlie for Rijack Farm and Ace Racing Stable Inc., the dark bay son of Giant Gizmo, sent to post as the 4-5 mutuel favourite in the six furlong ‘Poly’ stake for Ontario-bred juveniles, was guided to a second consecutive victory by Michelle Rainford.
Ruth Less Blue’s front-running score was characteristic of his maiden victory on August 2 when sprinting six furlongs on the Woodbine main.
Leaving from the outside post in a compact field of five, Ruth Less Blue broke out of the gate swiftly and took a commanding lead through splits of :22:85 and :46.23 with Get’erdonebud tracking his early foot. Ruth Less Blue moved comfortably around the turn, holding onto a narrow lead, as Get’erdonebud and Conquest Daddyo advanced into contention.
With an eighth of a mile to run, Ruth Less Blue veered towards the rail, and ducked in sharply again at the sixteenth pole, but quickly straightened out, resiliently staying on for a half-length win. Conquest Daddyo, piloted by Patrick Husbands, rallied three-wide down the stretch, to earn place by 1 ¼-lengths over Get’erdonebud. Final running time for the six furlong event was 1:10:71.
“I’ve always loved this horse”, said Fairlie, “I knew he was a runner from the start, it’s the first time I’ve ever run a two-year-old in a stakes race”.
Ruth Less Blue, bred in Ontario by Rijack Farm Stable and Fairlie, banked $90,000 in victory while improving his record to two 2-1-0 from three starts.
He paid $3.60, $2.10 and $2.10, combining with Conquest Daddyo ($2.70, $2.10) for an $8.10 (5-3) exactor. A 5-3-4 triactor (Get’erdonebud, $2.10 to show) was worth $12.50.
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