Eighty Nine Red scores upset in Achievement Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Eighty Nine Red, the longest shot in the five-horse field, collared 6-5 favorite Flashy Margaritta in deep stretch to land his first stakes win Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Achievement.

Flashy Margaritta set fractions of 22.67 seconds and 45.67 in the six-furlong test for Ontario-bred 3-year-olds. Eighty Nine Red pressed the moderate pace along the inside before coming outside for the drive and then got home on top by a length in 1:10.28. Spadina Road, The Imposter, and Go Greeley completed the order of finish.

Jesse Campbell rode Eighty Nine Red for trainer Mike De Paulo, who said he considered scratching the gelding in favor of an Ontario-sired allowance. Campbell said he was a little worried heading into the turn.

“It was pretty tight,” Campbell said. “I knew we weren’t going that fast. I was a little surprised to see that someone else didn’t challenge [Flashy Margaritta]. They left that up to me, so I did it. He really ran a good race. I love the way this horse responded. He put it all together. I’ve had high hopes for him all along.”

Eighty Nine Red ($34.90) earned $90,000 for the partnership of John Russell and George Schramm.

Stacked Deck wins Charlie Barley

First-time gelding Stacked Deck ($31.70) captured Saturday’s overnight stakes, the one-mile Charlie Barley, under Chantal Sutherland-Kruse.

Stacked Deck held off 16-1 shot Speightsland to prevail by a nose in a time of 1:33.45 over the firm turf. Florida Won wound up third, and Jose Sea View finished fourth in the field of eight 3-year-olds.

In his stakes debut, Stacked Deck earned $60,000 of the $101,200 purse for owner Bruce Lunsford and trainer Barbara Minshall.