Cruden Bay surges in final strides to take Connaught Cup
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Cruden Bay closed stoutly from last to collar War Bomber in the final strides and notch his first stakes under apprentice Sofia Vives in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,200 Connaught Cup at Woodbine.
Cruden Bay saved ground at the rear of the eight-horse field as First Empire led the way in the seven-furlong turf sprint, with Capture the Lion attending the pace in second.
War Bomber came from a stalking position to assume command in the stretch before Cruden Bay was angled outside in midstretch during his rally en route to a neck score, in a time of 1:21.27 over the good ground.
Ironstone wound up third and was followed by Capture the Lion, First Empire, Saratoga Flash, the favored Flag Of Honour and Not Normal.
Cruden Bay ($10.50) was coming off a decisive score in his June 1 season-opener in a seven-furlong conditioned allowance/optional claimer.
“Last time was the first time I ever sat on him and he came from well off it,” Vives recalled. “Down the lane, you just have to give him one clear run and not get him stopped. Today, I got the rail trip. It was a perfect trip. It played out great.”
Cruden Bay, a son of Ontario sire Big Screen trained by Don MacRac, collected $126,000 for owner Michael Lay.
*** The Mark Casse-trained 4-year-olds Solo Album and Forever Dixie ran one-two in a blanket finish in Saturday’s Grade 3 Trillium for fillies and mares.
Solo Album prevailed in a front-end battle with Ocean Club before digging in to score by a head over Forever Dixie, who had to alter course around her stablemate in late stretch. Fashionably Fab finished another neck back in third while Ocean Club faded to fourth in the seven-horse field.
The final time for the 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta was 1:43.90.
Solo Album ($6.60) earned $81,000 of the $138,240 purse for the partnership of Gary Barber, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Steven Rocco.
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