Eskiminzin holds on for Bold Ruckus Stakes triumph

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Eskiminzin was supplemented to Sunday’s $100,000 Bold Ruckus Stakes at Woodbine, and then got the job done with blinkers on in the six-furlong turf event.

Eskiminzin battled three wide for the lead on the turn, and then assumed command in the stretch before holding off the favored Be Vewy Vewy Quiet in a three-quarter-length score. Ellas My Love wound up third in the seven-horse field of Ontario-sired 3-year-olds.

Over a course labeled as yielding, the final time was 1:10.66.

Luis Contreras got a leg up from trainer Carlos Grant on Eskiminzin, a son of Cold Harbor.

“The grass was great,” Contreras said. “It wasn’t soft at all. (He) was very aggressive with the blinkers on. Last time I rode (him), he was kind of spooky between horses. I asked Carlos to do a favor to put blinkers on, and he wasn’t spooky at all.”

After opening up as the 5-2 favorite, Eskiminzin drifted up and paid $15. He earned $60,000 in his second stakes win for Jecara Farms Corp.

“We were targeting him (to the June 30 Queen’s Plate), but we had a few minor setbacks early in the season,” co-owner Brett Delmas said.

“It’s frustrating and disappointing, to a certain extent. I think we have him back on form now.”