Surtsey Sweeps to Zadracarta Win

Yvonne Schwabe’s homebred Surtsey, with Omar Moreno aboard, outduelled the defending champion Silent Treat through the stretch to win the featured $100,000 Zadracarta Stakes, Saturday at Woodbine.

Contested over seven furlongs of yielding turf, eight fillies and mares lined up for the challenge, with the Chad Brown-trained Wavell Avenue, a ship-in from New York, the 9-5 post time choice. But Surtsey, a five-year-old product of Heatseeker-Kick’em Jenny, proved full value for the win, scoring by a length in 1:27.02.

Crysta’s Court took the field through an opening quarter in :23.64 but was joined by Executive Allure and Skylander Girl around the far turn, while Silent Treat, making her seasonal debut, had chased the leader early then was tucked along the rail in fourth by jockey Michelle Rainford.

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Turning for home, Silent Treat was swung out to challenge the new leader Skylander Girl after a half in :48.14, got to the front, but was immediately joined by Surtsey, who had been fifth early, as the pair began to duke it out down the lane.

Surtsey edged ahead in late stretch while Wavell Avenue, who had broken slowly from the gate, mounted a challenge down the centre of the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, eventually finishing third, a neck further back.

It was the first win in three starts this year for the Kevin Attard-trained Surtsey. Attard won the Zadracarta in 2007 with Siwa.

Last year, Surtsey was a one-time winner in five outings, scooping the Avowal Stakes, where she beat the aforementioned Silent Treat by a half-length in another seven furlong turf event.

With the $60,000 winner’s share, Surtsey now boasts a career bankroll of $377,492. Sent postward the 6-1 fourth choice, she paid $15.50, $7.30 and $3.50, combining with Silent Treat ($9.40, $4.90) for a $107.50 (8-3) exactor. An 8-3-7 (Wavell Avenue, $3.20) triactor was worth $500.70, while a $1 Superfecta [8-3-7-10 (Mahogany Road] was worth $2,000.15.