Credit River stretches out in Cup and Saucer Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Credit River made quite a splash when he landed his Sept. 19 debut in the Ontario Racing Stakes. He will stretch out in Saturday’s $250,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes for Canadian 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

Credit River was dismissed at 41-1 in the $155,790 Ontario Racing, which was run over five furlongs on the inner turf. After a slow start, he trailed in sixth some nine lengths off a lively pace before mowing down all the speed to prevail over another closer, and then galloped out strongly. It was the first stakes win for trainer Breeda Hayes, who said she wasn’t totally surprised by that impressive performance.

“He was always doing things very professional in the morning,” Hayes said. “He was always on the bridle, with more to give. I was quite confident he wouldn’t disgrace us in the stakes. Did I think he’d have that kick? I guess they were setting [quick] fractions, and he was able to use that speed to his advantage in the finish.”

Credit River is bred to run on. By More Than Ready, the Hillsbrook Farms runner is a half-brother to Grade 1-winning grass expert Hard Not to Like. His dam, Like a Gem, won two 1 1/4-mile stakes at Woodbine, the Maple Leaf and Wonder Where. Hayes is confident that 1 1/16 miles is in his wheelhouse and that he’ll acquit himself well again Saturday.

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“He would have gotten a mile and a sixteenth three weeks before he ran,” Hayes said. “He’s good to go. We’re just hoping for the best. It’s exciting times. He’s got to step up. If all goes well, the world is our oyster, as they say.”

Trainer Mark Casse entered the promising Master Spy and the maidens Beyond My Dreams and Carpe Horseshoe.

Owned by Tracy Farmer, Master Spy graduated third time out in a one-mile maiden special on the grass Sept. 13. He was previously second behind the speedy Ready to Repeat in the Victoria Stakes on the Tapeta under Patrick Husbands.

“Early on, when he had him down at our training center, we thought he was one of our better 2-year-olds,” Casse said. “I think he’s run well, but I still feel like there’s more there, and we haven’t seen everything that he has to give yet. I told Mr. Farmer and his racing manager a few months ago that if this horse stays healthy, he could be your Queen’s Plate horse. Patrick loves him.”

Simcoe Stakes winner Dragon’s Brew was favored in the Sept. 27 Bull Page Stakes for Ontario-sired males. In his first turf start, he raced extremely wide all the way in the Bull Page to end up third in the 7 1/2-furlong inner-course event.