Conquest Top Gun elevated to first in Marine

ETOBICOKE, Ontario—The favored Asserting Bear lost Sunday’s $140,000 Marine Stakes at Woodbine by disqualification to Conquest Top Gun after interfering with Ami’s Holiday in the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile route for 3-year-olds.

Conquest Top Gun ($8.10) dueled with Asserting Bear through honest fractions, before Ami’s Holiday loomed into contention along the rail on the far turn. Ami’s Holiday sought room between the two front-runners early in the stretch, but a hole closed around the eighth pole and he eventually finished a close third under Luis Contreras.

Asserting Bear prevailed by a neck over Conquest Top Gun, in 1:44.44, but Contreras claimed foul on Asserting Bear and Chantal Sutherland-Kruse for interference. The stewards also called for an inquiry, and they demoted Asserting Bear to third after taking a long look at the films.

Eurico Da Silva rode Conquest Top Gun for trainer Mark Casse. The $525,000 2-year-old purchase earned $75,000 in his stakes debut for Conquest Stable.

“My horse was very anxious to run,” Da Silva said. “[Asserting Bear] beside me, didn’t make my job too easy. I was really worried. I was surprised that he went that fast and kept going. He ran a great race.”