‘Marvel’ at this: $140 winner kicks off Woodbine turf racing

Toronto, ON – Major Marvel, the longest shot on the board at 69-1, opened the Woodbine turf season with a major upset over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on Saturday. For the four-year-old bay, trained by Laurie Silvera, the victory was his third lifetime triumph in nine starts and his first tally in his first-ever appearance at Woodbine on the 1 ½-mile course.

Major Marvel’s time for seven furlongs (course rated ‘good’) was 1:20.78

Off smartly, the son of Bernstein was sent to the lead by jockey Emile Ramsammy. The Kentucky-bred, a length in front at track announcer Dan Loiselle’s stretch call, held off all challengers, winning by 1 ¼ lengths. Battle At Sea, a son of Smart Strike was second. Passager, a French-bred son of Anabaa, finished third.

Bred and owned by Richard Shultz, Major Marvel returned $140.

Members of the Woodbine riding colony are thrilled to have turf racing back.

“This turf course is definitely the best turf course in North America, without a doubt,” said Ramsammy. “Everyone that comes here talks about it. What’s not to love? It’s especially great winning the first grass race of 2010.”

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