Leavem in Malibu gets his stakes win in Valedictory

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Leavem in Malibu desperately needed a stakes win to have a decent chance of going to stud in the future, and the handsome son of Malibu Moon got it in Sunday’s $145,850 Valedictory Stakes, Woodbine’s closing-day feature.

Patrick Husbands let Leavem in Malibu roll from the outset, and they set slow fractions in the 1 3/4-mile marathon. Ethical Funds hounded the imposing leader the second time down the backstretch, but Leavem in Malibu countered to take control on the final turn and then opened up a clear lead en route to a 2 1/2-length score in 2:58.92.

The favored Melmich, the 2015 Valedictory victor, rallied wide to finish second. He was followed by Ethical Funds, Bangkok, Pumpkin Rumble, Portree, English Illusion, Motivational, Kasseopia, Tesseron, Major Production, and Lead by Example.

“I studied the racing form all last night,” Husbands said. “This horse is a galloper. I told [assistant trainer David Adams] in the paddock, ‘I’m going let him run away from there and see what he’s going to do.’ He was doing it so easy. I wasn’t really worried. He ran a good race. He was just playing with them.”

Trained by Mark Casse, Leavem in Malibu ($9.40) banked $90,000 for owners Gary Barber and Conrad Farms. The 4-year-old refugee from the 2016 Canadian Triple Crown was bred in Ontario by Bill Graham.