Gierkink's review: Longshots fill out top spots in Ballade Stakes

Longshots Silent Treat, Rootham Triple E’s, I’m a Kittyhawk, and Dance to the Moon swept the top four spots in the $126,600 Ballade Stakes, making up a superfecta that returned nearly $1,000 for 20 cents with “all” in the fourth position. With Michelle Rainford riding for trainer Scott Fairlie, Silent Treat ($27.40) outran the other speed and kept on going to prevail by daylight in a quick 1:09.79 in the six-furlong test.

Trainer John Ross, who just sold stakes winner Lexie Lou, appears to have an able replacement for her with True Darling, who overcame a cumbersome inside trip to graduate at first asking in a six-furlong maiden special. The favored first-timer Amethea, who was sent out by Lexie Lou’s new trainer, Mark Casse, rallied wide to collar the frontrunning Eyes Her Man for second. This could be a key race in the making.

Cristalino and Marten Lake both registered their second victory of the meet on the card. Marten Lake regressed off his blowout maiden score from a Beyer perspective, but his triumph in a six-furlong allowance was quite professional. He could have a bright future in the Ontario-sired ranks.
Trainer Katerina Vassilieva won her first race of the year with Humorus Dilemma in the ninth. Earlier in the day, she scratched a sick Big Bazinga from the Grade 2 American Turf at Churchill.

Jockey Cesar Mejia won his first Woodbine race in the nightcap aboard 8-1 shot Try Running but had to survive a claim of foul before getting his picture taken. Nobody won the Jackpot Hi Five outright, which had a consolation payoff of $2,643. The carryover is $55,246.

For the second straight day, the inside was the place to be. The only winner who raced wide throughout was the closing Monarch City, a first-timer who was taking an edge in a $12,500 maiden claimer.

Horses to watch

AMETHEA
Trainer: Mark Casse
Last race: May 3, race 5
Finish: Second by 1 3/4
Beyer: 61

After a tardy start, this Ontario-bred daughter of Henny Hughes closed nicely on the outside over an inside-favoring track after getting bet down to favoritism in her debut.

MY SILVER BADGE
Trainer: Mike Wright
Last race: May 3, race 10
Finish: Fourth by 4
Beyer: 49

He lost considerable ground after being squeezed back heading into the turn of this seven-furlong conditioned claimer, before passing some rivals in the stretch. His next race will be the third of his form cycle, and it could be a peak one.