John Unger’s Strut the Course uncorked a tremendous turn of foot to capture Saturday’s co-featured Grade 3 $150,000 Maple Leaf Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Barb Minshall, the four-year-old daughter of Strut the Stage-Bold Course settled well off the early pace of defending Maple Leaf champ Moonlit Beauty before unleashing an explosive stretch kick to take the 1 1/4-miles ‘Poly’ stake by five lengths.
Moonlit Beauty set splits of :24.90 and :49.65 under David Moran with Julie’s Love and Miss Mischief keeping close watch. Moonlit Beauty maintained her lead through the final turn as Julie’s Love rallied into contention, but there was no denying the late surge of Strut the Course who covered 1 1/14-miles in 2:02.74.
The victory provided Contreras a sweep of the Saturday stakes having captured the Display earlier on the card with Glenville Gardens.
“She was really relaxed behind horses. I wasn’t worried at all,” said Contreras of Strut the Course’s impressive effort.
Strut the Course arrived at the Maple Leaf from victories in a grassy allowance on August 29 and a powerful 7 1/2-length score in the Classy N’ Smart Stakes, over the ‘Poly’ on September 28.
Minshall wasn’t too worried about the ability of Contreras, aboard Strut the Course for the first time, to settle the improving filly.
“Once he gets on her back and gets outside, she’ll settle right down,” said Minshall. “Just let her get in behind horses and she’ll drop the bit for him.”
Strut the Course, bred in Ontario by her owner, banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to 7-3-2 from 16 starts.
She returned $5.80, $3.70 and $3.10, pairing with Lady of Gold ($16.50, $9.60) for an $87.20 (6-7) exactor. A 6-7-3 (Julie’s Love, $5.10 to show) triactor was worth $492.10, while a $1 Superfecta [6-7-3-2 (Llanarmon)] came back $1415.35. Players Club and Sky High Lady were scratched.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
