God of Love rally gives Barber, Casse 1-2 Cup and Saucer sweep
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - God of Love came charging on the outside from well back to collar Fast Feet late in Sunday’s $251,200 Cup and Saucer Stakes at Woodbine, giving owner Gary Barber and trainer Mark Casse a sweep of the top two spots in the 1 1/16-mile test for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds.
Over a main turf labeled yielding, 7-2 favorite Fast Feet set slow fractions with Mentoring pressing him along the rail, as God of Love raced near the rear of the 11-horse field on the backstretch.
Rafael Hernandez angled God of Love wide from the two path entering the stretch, where they bumped with Hidden Honor before going on to win by 1 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:47.86. Stronger Together finished another length back in third, three lengths clear of Dancin in Da’nile.
After a stewards’ inquiry regarding the bumping between God of Love and Hidden Honor, there was no change in the order of finish. God of Love paid $17.10.
“I tried to get him closer, but he refused to go early,” Hernandez said. “He stayed back, so I tried to make one run and put him in the clear and he came flying down the lane. The longer he goes, the better he’s going to go.”
By freshman sire Cupid, God of Love earned $150,000 for Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.
Art of Almost wins Matron
Art of Almost ($19.80) and the heavily favored Skygaze also gave Casse a sweep of the first two positions in Sunday’s Grade 3, $150,300 Ontario Matron.
Art of Almost trailed going down the backstretch in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta route before rallying stoutly on the far outside to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths over Skygaze, in a time of 1:43.99. Juxtapose wound up third in the six-horse field of fillies and mares.
A daughter of Dansili, Art of Almost banked $90,000 in her first stakes score for D. J. Stable.
“She’s a hard-trying mare,” winning rider Emma-Jayne Wilson said. “She gives it her all every time. It’s nice to finally see her get a good one this year. She’s been knocking on the door all year.”