Biofuel closes out her season by capturing Selene

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Biofuel closed stoutly from off a hot pace to take the $254,200 Selene Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday, solidifying her status as a leading Canadian Horse of the Year candidate.

Stretch runner Biofuel ($2.60) broke a bit slowly in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies, before jockey Eurico Da Silva got her to settle near the back of the strung-out eight-horse field.

Biofuel began her wide rally on the far turn, and then mowed down pacemaker Barracks Road and Kitty in a Tizzy nearing the eighth pole, en route to a two-length tally in a time of 1:43.36.

Bubble Gum, who like Biofuel, is trained by Reade Baker, rallied to finish 6 ¾ lengths behind Kitty in a Tizzy in third.

“She broke relaxed, and I left her alone.” said Da Silva. “The pace was pretty good, and I wasn’t worried about anything on the first turn. The last two races, there was no pace for her to run at, but today we had a pace, and I was very confident.”

Baker said the Grade 3 Selene was the final start of the year for Biofuel, who banked $150,000 for owner/breeder Brereton Jones.

Mekong Melody repeats in Flaming Page

Mekong Melody ($3.20) won the $106,000 Flaming Page Stakes for the second year in a row.

The Roger Attfield-trained Mekong Melody covered about 1 1/2 miles on grass in 2:31.26 under Patrick Husbands, while scoring by three-quarters of a length over Happy Clapper.