Toronto, ON – Gustav Schickedanz’s homebred Woodsmoke led from gate to wire in Sunday’s $151,200 Fury Stakes at Woodbine.
The three-year-old daughter of Woodman is now 2-for-2 in her young career and may have stamped herself as a contender for the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, on June 7. Trained by Mike Keogh and ridden by Tyler Pizarro, Woodsmoke stayed on willingly through the stretch and defeated High Mist by 2 1/4 lengths. Mullins Beach was along late for third.
Woodsmoke set a Fury Stakes record for seven furlongs, completing the event in 1:22.67, which is 0.21 seconds faster than Gonetofarr’s time of
1:22.86 in 2002. Pizarro said the filly, who rallied from six lengths off of the pace to break her maiden, was well-prepared for her second start in 14 days. “(Mike Keogh) had this filly primed and ready,” said Pizarro. “She didn’t want to be around anybody. She wanted to go to lead.”