Creed’s Gold gains second consecutive Hendrie triumph
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Creed’s Gold won Saturday’s Grade 3 Hendrie at Woodbine for the second year in a row with Rafael Hernandez along for the ride again.
Creed’s Gold won last year’s Hendrie in front-running fashion, but she raced in third early in the 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint for fillies and mares this time.
Kentucky shipper Kehoe Beach set a lively pace while being tracked by Without Cause. Hernandez made his way to the golden rail on the turn and got Creed’s Gold rolling in the three-path in the stretch en route to a 1 1/2-length win, in a time of 1:16.14.
Time to Dazzle came wide to give trainer Mark Casse a sweep of the top two positions in the exacta. Reagan’s Flame closed outside for third and Uphill Dance checked in fourth. Kehoe Beach, American Women, She’s All Charm, Without Cause, and Slang completed the order of finish.
“Last year, she went to the lead,” Hernandez recalled. “Today, she broke good, but there was a lot of speed, so you can see you can do anything you want with her.”
Creed’s Gold collected $105,000 of the $175,000 purse for owner Kristin Meldahl. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Jimmy Creed returned $5.50 in her first victory since last year’s Hendrie.
*** Hernandez got his second stakes victory on the card aboard Fantastical in the Grade 3, $179,700 Trillium for fillies and mares.
After front-runner Hurricane Clair missed the break, Lupa was able to set a moderate pace in the 1 1/8-mile Tapeta route, with the Kentucky shipper Rashmi in close proximity.
Fantastical raced about five lengths off the lead in fifth on the backstretch before making her way into contention on the far turn, where she split rivals.
Lupa held off Rashmi in the final furlong while Fantastical and Fortyfiveseventy both made a bid. Fantastical got up on the outside in the final jump to prevail by a head over Lupa, who finished another head in front of Fortyfiveseventy.
Favored Golden Sunshine wound up fourth and was followed by Rashmi, Design, Crystal Visions, Scat Girl, and Hurricane Clair.
Fantastical ($10.20) covered the distance in 1:51.15. The daughter of Air Force Blue banked $105,000 for owner Carl R Moore Management and trainer Joe Sharp.
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