First-starter tops Canadian juveniles

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - First-time starter Atlantic Fury upset 3-5 favorite El Soprano in Saturday's $250,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

Atlantic Fury, the lone filly in the six-horse field, set slow fractions over soft ground in the 1 1/16-mile turf event while being pressed by Classic Case. El Soprano trailed early, but moved into a stalking position along the rail on the turn.

Atlantic Fury began to edge away from Classic Case at the eighth pole, while El Soprano sought room along the rail. Robert Landry angled El Soprano out three wide in deep stretch, but his late surge fell a nose short. Classic Case was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. The final time was 1:50.20.

"We found ourselves on the lead and just went as slow as we could," said Slade Callaghan, who picked up the mount on the winner midway through the card. "When horses came to her, she just dug in and gave it everything she had."

Atlantic Fury earned $150,000 and returned $7.70 as part of the Sam-Son Farm entry with the more fancied First Class Honors. It was the 13th Cup and Saucer victory for Sam-Son, and the third for trainer Mark Frostad.