Grand Arch comes through as longshot in King Edward

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Longshot Grand Arch notched his first stakes in grand style Sunday at Woodbine in the Grade 2, $202,000 King Edward.

Favored Excaper set lively fractions in the one-mile turf route, while being pressed by Are You Kidding Me. Grand Arch saved ground in sixth on the turn and split horses in the stretch before mowing down Excaper late to prevail by a half-length in 1:32.49.

Maryland shipper Utley rallied wide for third, and River Seven finished fourth in the eight-horse field.

Irishman David Moran rode Grand Arch for trainer Brian Lynch, an Australian native.

“Brian told me to get him settled and ride him like he was the best horse in the race,” Moran said. “He won like the best horse in the race.”

Grand Arch ($25.20) earned $120,000 for owners Jim and Susan Hill.

** Conquest Top Gun ($2.70) made short work of his three rivals in Sunday’s supporting feature, the $148,250 Victoria Park Stakes.

Conquest Top Gun went straight to the front under Eurico Da Silva, who guided him along through slow fractions in the nine-furlong route for 3-year-olds. He drew off in the final furlong under a hand ride, scoring by 5 3/4 lengths, in 1:50.96.

“He was very comfortable,” Da Silva said. “After a quarter, he relaxed beautifully, and he picked it up pretty good in the stretch. He had some more. He’s a very nice horse.”

Keen Gizmo finished 9 1/2 lengths clear of Tulio’s Brew in second, while Presque Isle shipper Genuine Flare faded to finish a distant fourth.

It was the second stakes win here this weekend for Conquest Stable and trainer Mark Casse, who won Saturday’s Victoria with the brilliant 2-year-old Conquest Tsunami.

Leading trainer Casse won three races on the card.