Just Rushing takes Mt. Sassafras

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Just Rushing, a $40,000 claim by Tucci Stable last November, won his sixth race in a row Sunday at Woodbine in the $76,200 Mt. Sassafras Stakes.

Just Rushing put away two rivals on the front end in the seven-furlong dash, after moderate fractions of :22.87 and :45.51 seconds. He opened up a clear lead in the stretch, and prevailed by a length and three-quarters over a stalking Edenwold. Main Executive finished third, and favored Dave the Knave was sixth in the eight-horse field of Ontario-foaled runners.

Emma Wilson rode Just Rushing for trainer Sid Attard.

"I was anticipating more speed, and I was hoping to stalk," Wilson said, "but he was moving along quite comfortably, and I just let him to his thing. If we were in contention at the top of the stretch, I knew he'd be a horse to be reckoned with."

Just Rushing returned $11.30, and banked $45,000 in his stakes debut.