Dream Shake ($22.10) survives foul claim, takes Connaught Cup
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dream Shake ($22.10) survived a claim of foul to win Sunday’s Grade 3 Connaught Cup Stakes on the Woodbine Oaks undercard.
With Rafael Hernandez aboard, Dream Shake tracked pacesetter Roaring Forties in the seven-furlong turf sprint before hitting the front early in the stretch. After drifting out in deep stretch, he prevailed by a length over War Bomber, who edged out Lucky Score and the troubled favorite Churchtown for second.
Old Chestnut finished fifth and his rider, Kazushi Kimura, claimed foul on Dream Shake, to no avail. Dreams of Tomorrow, Roaring Forties, Banff and Bound for Nowhere competed the order of finish.
Over firm turf, the final time was 1:20.33.
Dream Shake earned $105,000 of the $179,000 purse for the partnership of Stonestreet Stables, Exline-Border Racing, Peter Eurton and Richard Hausman. Mike Stidham trains the son of Twirling Candy, who won his local debut in allowance company on the Tapeta July 2.
*** Il Malocchio barely came out on top after a thrilling three-way stretch battle in Sunday’s Grade 3, $168,300 Trillium, giving jockey Sahin Civaci his third winner on the card.
Il Malocchio raced three-wide in mid-pack as Angelou set slow fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route for fillies and mares.
A stalking Kate’s Kingdom faded on the far turn as Il Malocchio rallied outside and the favored Souper Hoity Toity closed along the rail. Il Malocchio dug in gamely to prevail by a head over Angelou, who was disqualified from second to third behind Souper Hoity Toity for some bumping in deep stretch. The final time was 1:44.14.
Il Malocchio ($18) earned $108,000 for owner/breeder Franco Meli. The Souper Speedy mare was a distant fourth in her March 25 season debut in the Latonia Stakes at Turfway, before a pacepressing fourth in the Grade 3 Belle Mahone here June 3.
“We had her down in the U.S. just to get her started,” trainer Marty Drexler said. “We ran her in Kentucky off Lasix and she was a little bit flat that day. (In the Belle Mahone), she got caught up on the pace and she doesn’t like that. This was much better.”
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