Despite stretch antics, Al Hudaiba earns Breeders' Cup berth in Summer
:quality(75))
ETOBICOKE, Ontario − England-based Al Hudaiba ran greenly through the stretch but got the job done under William Buick in Saturday’s Grade 1, $501,000 Summer for 2-year-olds at Woodbine.
Al Hudaiba ($3.30) had three rivals beaten in the eight-horse field while racing about five lengths off a moderate pace in the one-mile main turf route. Quipster led the way and was overtaken in the stretch by 5-2 second choice Oscar, while Al Hudaibi was in the midst of a wide rally.
Al Hudaiba drifted out sharply in the final furlong after hitting the front, but didn’t lose too much momentum and prevailed by a 1 3/4 lengths over Oscar in a time of 1:35.66.
Induction closed for last for third and was followed by Big Money Man, Let Em Know, Play It Again, Sword Salute, and Quipster.
“He’s a very talented colt,” Buick said. “He was very straightforward today until inside the last furlong. To still win like he did doing that, you’ve got to have a fair level of ability.”
Al Hubaiba was a Group 2 winner at Newmarket in July for trainer Charlie Appleby.
“He’s a horse with plenty of ability,” said assistant trainer Alex Merriman. “To be fair to the horse, he’s only a 2-year-old and he’s been here all week and hasn’t put a foot wrong. He’s been really grown up. It’s just that little [quirk] − for whatever reason, he does that. It would be lovely if he could stop it.”
A son of Dark Angel, Al Hudaiba earned $300,000 for owner/breeder Godolphin.
The Summer is a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re in event and Al Hubaida earned a fees-paid berth into the BC Juvenile Turf at Keeneland for his efforts.
* Lupa set a fast pace in Saturday’s Grade 3, $180,500 Ontario Matron and never looked back to take the 1 1/16-mile event by 3 1/4 lengths over the favored shipper Fantastical.
Fraser Aebly rode Lupa ($10.50), who covered the distance in 1:43.38 in her first stakes victory for trainer Josie Carroll.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.
