Interpol wins first graded stakes in Sky Classic

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Interpol ($44.50) made a three-wide bid in the stretch and held off Golden Sabre and Are You Kidding Me in the final sixteenth to capture his first career graded stakes victory Sunday in the Grade 2, $232,400 Sky Classic Stakes at Woodbine.

Interpol sat fourth along the outside under jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson, while Sky Flight set a slow pace in front. Interpol made his move for the front at the top of the lane and struck the lead at the eighth pole. Are You Kidding Me battled Interpol gamely down the stretch, while Golden Sabre lacked racing room coming from off the pace.

In the end, it was Interpol who was able to hold off the troubled Golden Sabre by a neck, crossing the line in 2:01.05 for 1 1/4 miles on turf. Are You Kidding Me was nosed out of second and settled for third, while the favorite Mr Speaker was fourth in the six-horse field.

“I’ve only ever watched this horse and watched his replays,” said Wilson, who inherited the mount on Interpol from Jesse Campbell after Campbell was injured in a spill Friday afternoon. “[Trainer Sid Attard] gave me a little insight into how he would be along the backside. He said if it’s slow enough, he’ll be there, and if not, he’ll settle real nice for you, and that’s exactly what happened. [Sky Flight] kind of shot away from the gate, and I knew we’d be in a nice tracking position. He settled for me, and when I called on him, he dug in deep. Really deep.”

Interpol banked $144,000 in the victory to bring his career earnings to $364,707. He recorded his fourth career win and first stakes win for Attard and owner JMJ Racing Stables LLC.