Camp Creek and Luis Contreras came out on top in a three-across finish at the end of the 1-1/2-mile second leg of the Woodbine Turf Endurance Series contested on Saturday afternoon.
The $50,000 second leg comprised a dozen horses including five returning from first round competition. Bold Rally set out for the lead from post 10 in hopes of repeating his initial series success, but Hillsbrook Farms’ 2016 Breeders’ Stakes champion Camp Creek remained prominent throughout along the rail and collared him past the one-mile mark though their battle continued down the stretch. Camp Creek persisted and held off the late-rallying Sine Metu by a head in a final time of 2:29.82 while Bold Rally finished third over series newcomer Zephan.
Camp Creek, who was just headed by Sine Metu for second in the 1-3/8-mile opening leg on July 27, was making his debut from the Sam Parro barn. The six-year-old Dunkirk gelding picked up his fourth career victory and first since winning the 2-1/4-mile marathon to close out this series last year. He paid $7.70 to win as the 5-2 bettors’ choice.
With the victory, Camp Creek joined Bold Rally atop the series leaderboard with 15 points each while Sine Metu sits second just one point behind following a pair of runner-up finishes.
The Turf Endurance Series is for horses three-year-olds and up that have started for a claiming price of $25,000 or less in 2018-2019 or optional $40,000 claimers.
The series offers $40,000 in bonuses to the top point-earners over four legs stretching in distance by a furlong each round. The series continues Saturday, Sept. 21 with the 1-5/8-mile third leg before culminating with the 1-3/4-mile finale on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Points are awarded based on order of finish: 10 points for first-place, seven points for second, five points for third, three points for fourth, two points for fifth, one point for sixth through last.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
