Amalfi Coast beats elders in Bessarabian Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Amalfi Coast staked her claim for Canadian champion 3-year-old filly honors with a decisive win over older opposition in Sunday’s Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine.

Amalfi Coast, who was exiting back-to-back restricted stakes scores against fillies her own age, was bet down to 6-1 in the 12-horse Bessarabian field. After saving ground in fifth on the turn, she began to mount a wide rally leaving the quarter pole and then won going away by 2 1/2 lengths, getting seven furlongs in a quick 1:22.03 and returning $14.

Painting, an 11-1 shot, rallied from well back to nail Special Relativity on the wire for second. Zestina finished another next back in third, a neck in front of pacesetter Gamble’s Candy.

It was the fourth win in the Bessarabian for jockey Eurico Da Silva, who got a leg up from trainer Kevin Attard on the daughter of Tapizar.

“The trip was great,” Da Silva said. “In the paddock, Kevin had so much confidence. I think she sensed that confidence, because she ran with a lot of confidence. When we turned [for] home, she took off. Galloping out, another horse was passing her, and she just wanted to take off again. She ran a brilliant race today.”

Amalfi Coast banked $126,000 of the $200,050 purse for Terra Racing Stable.