Cactus Kris captures Hendrie as 3-5 favorite Leigh Court off the board

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Cactus Kris, a regular visitor to Woodbine from south of the border, won the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes in convincing fashion on Sunday, scoring by five lengths under Huber Villa-Gomez.

Leigh Court, the 3-5 favorite from Kentucky, tracked another Canadian champion, Academic, through wind-aided splits of 22.22 and 44.38 seconds in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

Cactus Kris, also based in Kentucky, saved ground on the turn before angling wide for the drive, and she collared the leaders around the eighth pole before drawing away to prevail in a time of 1:15.28.

Galina Point was a game second, while Skylander Girl edged out Copper Kitten for third. Charming Delilah, Academic, and Leigh Court completed the order of finish.

Cactus Kris ($14.10) earned $90,000 of the $161,700 purse for owner Anne Walsh, the mother of trainer Ryan Walsh.

“She [runs] on everything,” said Villa-Gomez. “Like Ryan says, she’s better than ever. She does everything what I ask her. If I want to go, she goes, but mostly, I let her do what she wants.”

Cactus Kris was the runner-up in the Sovereign Award voting for champion female sprinter in 2015. Walsh said the versatile daughter of Cactus Ridge could compete on grass here this summer.