The Great Day proves uncatchable in Durham Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Great Day got away with murder on the front end in Saturday’s Grade 3 Durham Cup Stakes at Woodbine, holding off the favored Special Forces to win his first Tapeta start under Patrick Husbands.

The Great Day set dawdling fractions in the nine-furlong route, with Thor’s Rocket tracking him until the quarter pole. Special Forces, under Alan Garcia, unleashed a wide bid on the far turn, joined The Great Day up front in midstretch, and then dueled with him to the wire before coming up a nose short.

Thor’s Rocket, Say the Word, and Aheadbyacentury completed the order of finish.

The Great Day is based at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland with trainer Arnaud Delacour, who was not in attendance.

“The only instructions I got was an email saying this horse has no turn of foot,” Husbands said. “I looked at the Racing Form, and it looked like I was the only speed. I picked it up at the half-mile, and squeezed him a little by the three-eighths. I got him over to his right lead and he dug in. And when Alan came to him, he dug in again. He never gave up.”

The Great Day ($6.90) covered the distance in 1:49.68, and the son of Harlan’s Holiday earned $75,000 of the $130,000 purse for Lael Stables.