Ageless sets track record in Royal North

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The imposing Maryland shipper Ageless ($3.40) lowered the six-furlong course record when capturing the Grade 3 Royal North Stakes for the second year in a row at Woodbine on Sunday.

Ageless bided her time in fourth on the backstretch of the six-furlong sprint, racing about five lengths off Leigh Court and Richies Party Girl, who dueled through quick fractions.

Ageless commenced her rally at the top of the stretch and hit the front at the eighth pole before holding Leigh Court at bay to prevail by three-quarters of a length. Her time of 1:07.17 was one-hundredth of a second faster than the course record set by Go Blue or Go Home earlier this month.

Julien Leparoux rode Ageless, who earned $90,000 of the $150,900 purse for Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s Lael Stable.

“She’s getting better all the time,” said Leparoux. “Today, the way she came on those horses, it was very impressive.”

On a sweltering day, trainer Arnaud Delacour said Ageless was on her game while competing over a turf course in need of rain.

“She’s versatile,” said Delacour. “The ground was very firm, and she doesn’t seem to mind it. She always comes with a good run at the end, and that’s what she did today.”

Zensational Bunny finished a distant third, and Richies Party Girl faded to fourth. Surtsey was vanned off after trailing the five-horse race.