Gamble's Ghost gives connections consolation prize with Maple Leaf win
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Owner Ivan Dalos and trainer Josie Carroll suffered the agony of defeat Saturday when they lost the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar by a nose with Ami’s Mesa. About 40 minutes later at Woodbine, however, they captured the Grade 3, $145,900 Maple Leaf Stakes with the favored Gamble’s Ghost.
Gamble’s Ghost ($4.70) saved ground at the rear of the field as her stablemate Involuntary set moderate fractions in the 10-furlong contest. Eurico Da Silva angled Gamble’s Ghost wide at the quarter pole, where she commenced a strong rally en route to a three-quarter-length triumph over last year’s Maple Leaf winner, Ice Festival. Involuntary weakened to third in the five-horse field.
A daughter of Ghostzapper, Gamble’s Ghost covered the distance in 2:04.70, and banked $90,000. She gave Da Silva his 32nd stakes score of the meet, which leaves him just four wins shy of the meet record.
“She was running very relaxed,” Da Silva said. “I was just sitting behind, waiting for the moment for me to push my horse. She’s a super-classy filly.”
* Tower of Texas closed wide from fourth and last to take the $116,000 Labeeb by a half-length over Glenville Gardens. Odds-on favorite Shakhimat, who like Tower of Texas is trained by Roger Attfield, finished a close third in the about one-mile overnight stakes, which was run in 1:38.87 over yielding turf.
Jesse Campbell rode Tower of Texas, who vaulted over the $1 million mark in earnings while collecting $75,600 for owners Thomas Van Meter II and Scott Dilworth. He paid $8.80 to win.