Ikerrin Road runs down Boreal Sprit in Bold Venture Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Ikerrin Road, a $32,000 claim by trainer Vito Armata in May, ran down the pacemaker Boreal Spirit in deep stretch to take the Grade 3 Bold Venture Stakes at 5-1 on the Woodbine Mile undercard Saturday.

Ikerrin Road benefited from an inside bias in the 6 1/2-furlong Tapeta sprint, in which he saved ground on the turn, while Boreal Spirit set moderate fractions.

David Moran angled Ikerrin Road wide for the drive, and he wore down Boreal Spirit in the final furlong to prevail by 1 1/4 lengths, in a time of 1:15.40 and returned $12.

After making up ground on the outside from fifth, Majestic Slew finished four lengths back in third. He was followed by Circle of Friends, the favored Unbridled Juan and Puntrooskie. Morning line favorite Good Bye Greg was scratched in favor of a stakes at his Arlington base.

Ikerrin Road, a 4-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Iffraaj, earned $75,000 of the $132,000 purse for Alpine Stable.