Global Access holds off Skywire in Marine Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Global Access ($7.50) got the jump on the favored Skywire in Saturday’s Grade 3 Marine Stakes, en route to a handy score in the 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-olds at Woodbine.

Patrick Husbands had the flashy chestnut Global Access tracking the leaders in a three-wide position as Hoffa’s Union set slow fractions while being pressed by Lyrical Note.

Global Access hit the front at the quarter pole, where Skywire began to mount a wide bid from fifth. Global Access kicked in strongly through the stretch to prevail by a length over that rival in a time of 1:42.83.

Dabo finished a distant third, and was followed by Lyrical Note and Hoffa’s Union.

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Normally based in Maryland, Global Access remained here after ending up second to Skywire in the April 28 Wando Stakes. Trainer Mike Trombetta removed the blinkers for the Marine at the behest of Husbands.

“When I rode him last time, I never got him to relax,” Husbands recalled. “When I came back, I told [assistant Darren Glennon], if you take the blinkers off, I think this horse can be anything. When I breezed him back, I told the trainer that if we take the blinkers off, there’s no 3-year-old in Canada who could beat him.”

A son of the late Giant’s Causeway, Global Access earned $75,000 of the $130,000 purse for Live Oak Plantation.