Boardroom catches Souper Sensational in final strides of Royal North
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Favored Boardroom ran down another classy female making her first turf start, Souper Sensational, to win the Grade 2 Royal North under Rafael Hernandez on Saturday at Woodbine.
Boardroom ($7.70) assumed an outside stalking position in the 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint, as stablemates Souper Sensational and Jeanie B dueled through honest fractions.
Souper Sensational took control early in the stretch while Boardroom took dead aim at her. Boardroom wore down Souper Sensational in the final strides to prevail by a neck, in a posted final time of 1:13.55 over the firm ground.
La Libertee finished third as a supplement to the race. She was followed by Gidgetta, Jeanie B, In Good Spirits, Lady War Machine and Amalfi Coast.
Boardroom earned $105,000 of the $175,000 purse for owner LNJ Foxwoods and trainer Josie Carroll, who was confident that the daughter of Commissioner would take to the turf.
“She handled the grass really well down at Palm Meadows,” Carroll recalled. “I was pretty confident she’d like it. I was a little concerned because I knew it would be pretty hard and fast, and that was something she hadn’t been over. She did jump her leads just before the wire. I’m thinking maybe it was just adapting to that hard, fast surface, but this is just a really good mare. You can’t go over with her with anything but confidence. She just gives you everything every time.”