You have no new notifications
Pick Pony | Sept. 16, 2024, 12:42 p.m.
Dewolf was able to get the upper hand late to take top prize in the $100,000 Bull Page Stakes, a seven-furlong grass event for Ontario-sired 2-year-old colts and geldings, Sunday at Woodbine.
A son of Silent Name (JPN)-Holy Cargo, Dewolf, with Rafael Hernandez aboard, sat a stalking third along the rail as Unbridled Weather and Shadow Realm held down the top two spots early, with the former holding a two-length lead through an opening split in :22.82.
Unbridled Weather was 1 ½ lengths clear of Shadow Realm after a half in :45.52, while Hernandez and the 4-5 choice sat patiently just in behind the pacesetters.
The pair continued their upfront duel into the turn but were soon engaged by Dewolf, who came off the rail and set his sights on Unbridled Weather who was now in charge. Dewolf struck front with 200 yards to go and was able to fend off a game Unbridled Weather by 1 ¼ lengths. Shadow Realm was third and Kekoa finished fourth.
The final time over firm ground was 1:21.49.
“My horse never gives up,” said Hernandez. “He's a nice horse. He did an unbelievable job. He kept his mind on business, and he never lost focus.”
The connections made the decision to run in the Bull Page rather than in Saturday’s Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes.
“We obviously contemplated a little bit,” said trainer Kevin Attard. “But you know, he's a Canadian-bred, Ontario-sired, and we want to gear towards some of the Canadian-bred races later on in the fall here. So, we thought, kind of keep it simple right now for him and try to get some more confidence with him.”
The $250,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes, a 1 1/6-mile turf race for 2-year-olds foaled in Canada, on October 6, is a likely landing spot for the colt.
“I would have to think,” said Attard. “Stretching out a little further against Canadian-breds makes all the sense in the world.”
Bred by BHMFR, LLC, and owned by X-Men Racing IV LLC, Canuck Racing Club, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC, Dewolf entered his first stakes test off a maiden-breaking score on August 24, a 2 ¾-length triumph at 6 ½ furlongs over good going on the E.P. Taylor turf.
The dark bay debuted with a fourth in a six-panel sprint over the Taylor course on July 4.
Dewolf paid $3.80 for the win.
Souper Supreme, under Patrick Husbands, took the lead early and was resolute throughout en route to victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Victorian Queen Stakes, for 2-year-old Ontario-sired fillies, at Woodbine.
Trained by Mark Casse for owners Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, the daughter of Souper Speedy-Platinum Steel arrived at the seven-furlong turf engagement on a two-race win streak, which included a 4 ¼-length triumph in the Muskoka Stakes, at 6 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine main, on August 25.
It was an equally impressive outing in the Victorian Queen.
Souper Supreme glided to the front soon after the gates opened, followed by Ella It Is, I Love To Win (supplemented to the race), and Serious Green through an opening quarter in :23.39.
The bay filly was 3 ½ lengths on top after a half reached in :46.76, as Ella It Is looked to engage as the field headed into the turn for home.
Husbands didn’t move a muscle as Souper Supreme powered away from the field with ease, going on to post an easy 2 ¼-length score in a time of 1:22.16 over firm going on the E.P. Taylor turf. Ella It Is was second, two lengths ahead of Skylight Caper. I Love To Win was fourth.
“She showed you in the morning, even though she had never run on the turf, that she is legit,” said Husbands, whose weekend also included a victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Rogers Woodbine Mile, with Win for the Money, also trained by Casse.
“Even Mark Casse could have ridden her,” quipped the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of jockey. “She is all class. She loves to run.”
Langlois was thrilled to see any question marks around his filly’s ability to take to turf emphatically answered.
“I was obviously nervous because she hadn’t done it, but I was more hoping that she could do it because I know it opens up so many doors. As we are learning, if she can run on turf as well, there are lots of opportunities for her.”
Bred by Ericka Rusnak, Souper Supreme, now 3-1-0 from 4 starts, was a $100,000 purchase at the 2023 CTHS Ontario Premier Yearling Sale.
She paid $3.30.