Southdale Takes Short Route to Durham Score

Rod Ferguson’s Southdale rallied up the fence to capture Sunday’s Grade 3, $173,500 Durham Cup Stakes at Woodbine.

The four-year-old son of Street Cry, also the sire of undefeated 19-time winner Zenyatta, drew even with pacesetter Barreling Home near the eighth pole and drew off in the final furlong for the 3 1/4-length tally. Stunning Stag, who raced wide, finished third. Southdale, who also won the Grade 3 Eclipse over the Woodbine Polytrack earlier this year, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.36.

The colt rated nicely along the inside, never more than 2 1/2 lengths behind the front pair of Barreling Home and Southdale, who crawled early (:51.16 and 1:16.24). When an opening presented itself at the top of the stretch, Southdale seized the opportunity and drove through. The Ontario-bred colt is trained by Ian Black and was ridden by Jim McAleney.

“I had a ton of confidence in him,” said McAleney. “He didn’t really get a chance to run his race on the turf last time.”

Southdale is now 4-for-9 with $401,160 in earnings.

Southdale returned $6.10, $3.30 and $3.10, combining with Barreling Home ($8.40, $4.80) for a $49.20 exactor. Stunning Stag ($3) rounded out a triactor worth $135.10.

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