Dark Screen takes Lake Superior, Sweet Passions wins Thunder Bay
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dark Screen gave the familiar combo of jockey Juan Crawford and trainer Beverley Chubb a rare added-money score in the $100,000 Lake Superior, the first of three Ontario-sired stakes on Sunday’s Woodbine’s card.
Dark Screen ($6.70) tracked the dueling leaders Go Kart Mozart and Little Red Domi along the inside in the six-furlong main-turf sprint before Crawford angled him wide for the drive. He went on to prevail by a half-length over a closing Kekoa. Favored Go Kart Mozart faded to third in the six-horse field of male 3-year-olds.
The final time was 1:09.75 over a course labeled good.
“He has natural ability and I’m very grateful to be on him,” Crawford said. “He loved the grass from the first time I breezed him on it - he was a completely different horse, compared to (the Tapeta).”
A son of Big Screen, Dark Screen banked $60,000 for the partnership of Chubb, Richard Okihiro, and Greg Secko.
*** Sweet Passions won the 3-year-old filly equivalent of the Lake Superior, the $100,000 Thunder Bay, after overcoming significant trouble in the stretch in the six-furlong main-turf sprint.
With Ryan Munger aboard, Sweet Passions ($16.50) missed the break before mounting a bid in the stretch. She was squeezed between rivals near the eighth pole before digging in late to win by a neck, in a time of 1:09.69 over firm ground.
Favored Brengungirl edged out stablemate Rhaenyra for second and Silent Strike finished another head back in fourth in a blanket finish in the eight-horse field.
Sweet Passions earned $60,000 for The Estate of Paul Buttigieg. The daughter of Passion for Action was the first stakes winner for trainer Rick Hayashi, who recently inherited the training duties from the late Paul Buttigieg.
“She just runs with heart - that’s it,” Hayashi said. “It’s a bittersweet victory.”
*** Trainer John Ross ran one-two in the $100,500 Pink Lloyd Stakes when the front-running Its Time to Shine held off the charging favorite Junior Hot Shot to win by a head in the six-furlong sprint for 4-year-olds and up.
Its Time to Shine ($10.80) covered the distance in 1:10.27 under Jose Campos. The son of Souper Speedy banked $60,000 for the partnership of JC Stable, Rijack Farm, and Jim Aston.
Light the Lamp wound up third and Last American Exit checked in fourth in the nine-horse field.
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