Cairo Consort, Philip My Dear take 2-year-old turf sprints

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Antonio Gallardo inherited the mount on Cairo Consort after Leo Salles felt ill and got the job done in Saturday’s $132,350 Catch a Glimpse Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Cairo Consort came along the inside from seventh to hit the front with an eighth of a mile left and went in to score by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:16 for the 6 1/2 furlongs on the main turf.

Adora edged out Collecting Flatter for third, and Grand Oak wound up fourth over favored Wickenheiser in the 12-horse field.

“I had a really good trip,” Gallardo said. “She’s very honest. Everything went perfect. She’s very easy to ride. Whatever position you put her in, she stays there. When it’s time to go and you need a little more and you ask her, she gives it to you. It makes my job more easy.”

It was the first stakes win for trainer Nathan Squires, who said Cairo Consort will run back here in next month’s Grade 1 Natalma Stakes.

“She was always smart and she’s developing,” Squires said. “I think she’ll be a better 3-year-old.”

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A daughter of Cairo Prince, Cairo Consort ($11.20) won $75,000 in her stakes debut for owner William Thompson Jr.

Soaring Free Stakes

Favored Phillip My Dear punched his ticket to next month’s Grade 1 Summer Stakes under a well-timed ride from Kazushi Kimura in the $144,300 Soaring Free Stakes for juveniles.

Phillip My Dear raced three wide on the turn about five lengths off the lead in the 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint. The son of Silent Name rallied between rivals in the last furlong and got up in the final strides to prevail by three-quarters of a length over 62-1 shot Smoke Lightening in a time of 1:16.31.

Stayhonor Goodside finished third ahead of Chiseler in the 10-horse field.

“I didn’t think he was going to make it, but he showed a lot of grit and determination,” said winning trainer Kevin Attard. “He’s a nice colt. We’ve been aiming for [the Summer]. We thought we might need another race in between his maiden win and the Summer, and that fell today. We’re one step closer.”

Phillip My Dear ($4.30) earned $90,000 for Raroma Stable.