Buongiorno Johnny, who faltered in the late stages of his debut, redeemed himself with a determined stretch run to hold off stablemate Maritimer in Sunday’s $150,000 Vandal Stakes at Woodbine.
The one-two punch were bred by Howard Walton and race in Walton’s Norseman Racing Stable silks for trainer Sid Attard.
Everyday Dave, who arrived at Woodbine off of an eleventh-place finish at Ascot in England, led the field through moderate opening fractions of
:22.58 and :45.78 under jockey Jeffrey Sanchez. Buongiorno Johnny, piloted by Tyler Pizarro, followed closely in second with Maritimer and Making Amends stalking from a wide position down the backstretch.
Pizarro urged Buongiorno Johnny into action at the top of the lane getting first jump on a hard-charging Maritimer, who was being asked for his best by Woodbine’s leading rider Luis Contreras. The duo would battle the length of the stretch with Buongiorno Johnny winning a head-bob over Maritimer. Making Amends closed late for show money, two and three quarter lengths in front of Everyday Dave. Buongiorno Johnny covered six furlongs in 1:10.27.
Walton, who had plenty to cheer about in the stretch run, didn’t play favourites following the race. “That’s a storybook ending. They’re good horses and Sid and his crew have done a good job with them,” exclaimed Walton. “This horse is an up-and-comer. He improved so much off that last race and you’ll hear more from both of them. The other horse (Maritimer) probably wants to go a little longer and he’s bred for the grass as well.”
Attard was pleased with the instructions he received from his owner. “He (Walton) said let them both run and he was right,” smiled Attard.
“This horse is going to get better and better. I really liked how he ran today.”
Buongiorno Johnny, a bay son of Mr. Greeley-Mycupoftea, now boasts a win and a second in two lifetime starts, both at Woodbine.
He paid $21, $8.70, $4.60, combining with Maritimer ($7.90, $3.80) for a $102 (8-10) exactor. An 8-10-5 (Making Amends, $2.50 to show) triactor was worth $324.10.
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