G T Five Hundred edges Scorching in Thorncliffe Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — G T Five Hundred made his Woodbine debut a winning one in Sunday’s $106,400 Thorncliffe Stakes when mowing down the speed late in the 5 1/2-furlong dash for older runners.

Favored Poulin in O T and Scorching dueled through fast, wind-aided splits while G T Five Hundred raced in third through the turn under Rafael Hernandez.

Scorching held Poulin in O T at bay through the stretch before G T Five Hundred kicked in through the final furlong to prevail by a neck, in a time of 1:04.64.

Poulin O T weakened to third and was followed by the late-closing Dreaming of Kona, Roi Soleil and Dark Screen. The speedy Go Kart Mozart was scratched after getting loose in the post parade.

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G T Five Hundred was a post-sale purchase by Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc. and trainer Dale Desruisseaux after the March Fasig-Tipton digital sale.

“We were looking at the horse in the auction,” Desruisseaux said. “He RNA’d, so we contacted the seller and made an agreement after the sale to buy him. We’ve had him about six or seven weeks. When Go Kart scratched, I was a little worked that Poulin was going to be loose on the lead, but luckily, there was other pace pressure and it worked out.”

Also victorious in the Feb. 13 Forego Stakes over Turfway’s Tapeta, G T Five Hundred paid $6.70 as the second choice and earned $60,000. Desruisseaux said he plans on running the son of Astern back in the Grade 3 Jacques Cartier here May 30.

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