Decorated Soldier leads Seagram Cup all the way

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Decorated Soldier, a $20,000 claim by trainer Norm McKnight, led all the way under Gary Boulanger in Sunday’s Grade 3, $130,250 Seagram Cup at Woodbine.

Decorated Soldier ($21) was pressed by Shakhimat through quick fractions in the 1 1/16-mile event. He opened up a clear lead early in the stretch, and then coasted home on top by 2 1/4 lengths, in a time of 1:43.71.

Gigantic Breeze nosed out McKnight’s other runner, Florida Won, for second. The favored Are You Kidding Me wound up fourth, and was followed by Melmich and Shakhimat.

A 5-year-old gelding by Proud Citizen, Decorated Soldier was claimed at Oaklawn in April from trainer Steve Asmussen. He earned $75,000 for Racer’s Edge Inc. and Maxis Stable, and has now won three of fourth starts here on the Tapeta.

“He’s been a diamond in the rough, a real treasure,” McKnight said. “We took a look at him when we were down at Oaklawn. We liked everything we saw about him. The reason we were particularly interested is that he’d never been on the synthetic or on the grass. We never dreamt that he’d be doing what he’s doing. He’s just kept getting better and better. Right from the first time Gary rode him, he said this is a serious horse.”