Conman leads Casse sweep in Hamilton Stakes
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Trainer Mark Casse swept the top three positions in Sunday’s $100,200 Hamilton Stakes at Woodbine when the favored Conman won comfortably over Lifetime of Chance and Eyes On the King.
Sir Lancelot went straight to the front and was pressed by Eyes On the King through quick fractions in the 7 1/2-furlong inner turf event for 3-year-olds.
Conman raced three lengths off the lead in third on the backstretch and then closed the gap to hit the front around the eighth pole. He got home on top by 3 1/4 lengths over Lifetime of Chance, in a quick time of 1:28.65 that wasn’t far off the course record.
Eyes On the King held on for third and was followed by Mehlek, Sir Lancelot, and Keen Flatter.
Patrick Husbands rode Conman. The gelded son of Constitution was his meet-leading ninth stakes score.
“I tried to ride him like the best horse,” Husbands said. “On paper, he showed you that he was much the best horse. I put him in the race, eased back, and got a perfect trip. When I swung for home, I didn’t want to squeeze him yet. I got him in the clear, got him onto his right lead, and he just took off.”
Conman ($5) collected $60,000 in his initial stakes victory for D J Stable, which paid $300,000 for him at the 2021 Saratoga Yearling Sale.
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