Hydrogen closes meet with a bang

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Outsider Hydrogen ($37.40) edged Affirmed Feeling after a thrilling stretch battle to capture Sunday's $143,500 , Woodbine's closing-day feature.

Emile Ramsammy rode Hydrogen, who notched his first stakes in the mile and three-quarter marathon. He earned $86,100 for owner Earle Mack and trainer Mark Casse, who also sent the 4-year-old out to win his previous outing, in a second-level allowance.

Indy Lead and Mark One hooked up on the front end through honest fractions of :24.15, :48.13 and 1:13.62, and were stalked by Hydrogen and Malmaison.

Affirmed Feeling and Parose both made a wide bid for the lead heading into the far turn for the second time, as Hydrogen was angled wide by Patrick Husbands. Hydrogen drew abreast of Affirmed Feeling at the top of the stretch, and they dueled to the wire before the former prevailed by a nose.

Parose finished another three and a half lengths back in third. Indy Lead, Mark One and favored Fisher Pond rounded out the top six in the 11-horse horse field, from which Lucky Molar was scratched.

* Favored Winter Whiskey ($5.50) won Sunday's supporting feature, the $135,250 Kingarvie Stakes, a mile and a sixteenth event for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds. Jono Jones rode Winter Whiskey, who covered the distance in 1:46.15 while beating Spider Canyon by three and a quarter lengths.