Executive Choice airs in Steady Growth

Executive Choice shook loose on the lead under Emile Ramsammy and never looked back en route to an easy victory in the $125,800 Steady Growth Stakes.

Executive Choice set moderate fractions of 23.88 and 47.58 seconds before kicking away in the stretch to score by 7 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:43.68 for the 1 1/16 miles. Bold Finish was a clear second, and favored Soul Rebel wound up third in the seven-horse field of Ontario-sired runners.

"He had been training really aggressive going into the race," said Ramsammy. "He ran like we expected him to."

Executive Choice, previously based in New York, was making his first start for trainer Reade Baker after being sold to the partnership of Jim Aston, Peter Buzzi, and Augi Onesi. He returned $13.30 as the second choice, and earned $75,000.