Bound for Nowhere catches Arzak in Highlander Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Journeyman Pablo Morales made his first ride on the classy veteran Bound for Nowhere a winning one over an accomplished field in the Grade 2 Highlander on Saturday at Woodbine.
Based at Keeneland, Bound for Nowhere raced in mid-pack in the two-path on the turn, as Chuck Willis and Into the Sunrise dueled for the lead in the six-furlong turf sprint.
Bound for Nowhere was blocked in the stretch before finding some room inside of Silent Poet in the final furlong. He caught Arzak late and prevailed by a length, in a time of 1:08.01.
White Flag rallied for third ahead of last year’s Highlander winner, Silent Poet. The favored New York invader Voodoo Zip finished fifth in the 11-horse field.
“I thought I might have been a little closer, but it worked out perfectly,” Morales said. “A lot of horses came out together, and I was able to drop in and save a little bit of ground. He was very powerful all the way around there. I was sitting with a ton of horse. I was following a couple that I thought would carry me, but everybody stayed together and I was getting a little worried, but I’m glad I was able to work out a trip. When I put him in the clear and he felt a bit of room, he just took off.”
Bound for Nowhere, an 8-year-old by The Factor, banked $120,000 of the $203,200 purse for owner-trainer Wesley Ward. He returned $13 to win.