Dominion Bloodstock and Barry Butzer’s Thatlookonyerface split rivals in the shadow of the wire to win a photo over Bear’sway in Saturday’s $150,000 Grade III Marine Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by David Cotey, Thatlookonyerface left the gate at 32-1 in the 1 1/16-miles Tapeta route for three-year-olds that featured Riker, Canada’s champion two-year-old male of 2015, and recent Wando Stakes champ Bear’sway.
Thatlookonyerface, by Summer Bird, graduated in a maiden claiming route on November 14 at Woodbine in his penultimate juvenile start and then closed the campaign with a promising fourth-place run in a six furlong allowance sprint.
He arrived at the Marine from a difficult effort in the Wando when checked down the backstretch, eventually rallying to finish fourth, placed third through disqualification.
Riker, reunited with regular rider Jesse Campbell, led the way in the Marine setting splits of :22.49 and :48.59 as the 7-5 mutuel favourite. Bear’sway left from the inside post in the field of six under leading rider Eurico Rosa da Silva, before angling off the rail down the backstraight to press Riker’s early foot.
Thatlookonyerface, patiently handled by Gary Boulanger, saved ground from fifth position as Riker took a precarious lead through the turn with Bear’sway, Greatest Game and Dragon Bay all looming large.
Bear’sway eventually wore down a determined Riker, but it was Thatlookonyerface who angled off the rail and then found a seam between the tiring pacesetter and a stubborn Bear’sway to earn a narrow nose score. Greatest Game completed the triactor, a nose back of Bear’sway, while just a neck in front of Dragon Bay.
Boulanger wasn’t certain he had the race won.
“I didn’t know,” said Boulanger. “We were battling. The horse was trying, I was trying and then we pulled up and Rob Love (Woodbine outrider) said, ‘I think it’s you’.”
“He settled more today. Last time we got in quite a bit of trouble down the backside,” continued Boulanger. “This time we had a clear trip. He showed me a lot of character last time.”
The Marine marked the first stakes score of the season for both Boulanger and Cotey. The veteran rider, a winner of five added-money events in 2015, was full of praise for his mount’s brave effort.
“I didn’t have much choice where to go,” said Boulanger of the eventful stretch run. “Eurico (aboard Bear’sway) floated out a bit and then he started coming back in and that was the only place I had. Thank God he had enough courage to go in there. He fought all the way to the wire. Today was our day.”
Thatlookonyerface, bred in Kentucky by Sun Valley Farm, banked $90,000 in victory while improving his record to 2-0-1 from eight starts.
He paid $66.70, $13.40 and $4.80, combining with Bear’sway ($4.80, $3.10) for a $364.60 (5-1) exactor. A 5-1-2 triactor (Greatest Game, $2.60 to show) was worth $705.10.
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