Go Blue Or Go Home wins second Highlander in record time

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Go Blue Or Go Home ($36.60) won the Grade 2, $200,000 Highlander Stakes for the second time Sunday at Woodbine but for the first time on turf, breaking the six-furlong course record in the process.

The Highlander was washed off the grass at the last minute in 2013, when Go Blue Or Go Home made all the running over a wet Polytrack. This time, he pressed the favored Something Extra through moderate fractions before leading throughout most of the stretch en route to a neck win over a charging Katie’s Eyes. Mosler rallied for third, and Something Extra weakened to fourth in the seven-horse field.

The final time of 1:07.18 lowered the course record by 0.21 seconds.

Alan Garcia rode Go Blue Or Go Home, who earned $120,000 for owners Jim and Susan Hill and trainer Reade Baker.

“He broke good, and he was in a nice spot,” Garcia said. “Reade Baker told me a week ago, ‘I have a winner for you,’ and he was right.”