Little Teddy runs away with Zadracarta, gives jockey first stakes triumph
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Little Teddy blew away the field in the $100,000 Zadracarta in near-course-record time on Sunday at Woodbine while giving apprentice Austin Adams his first stakes success.
Little Teddy saved ground in mid-pack in the five-furlong inner-turf dash for Ontario-sired females, as shippers Pop Idol and Thermal went tooth-and-nail on the lead through suicidal fractions.
Little Teddy began to mount a rail rally entering the stretch and then left the leaders in her dust at the eighth pole before drawing to score by 5 1/2 lengths over a closing Olivia Rose.
Thermal finished another 1 1/2 lengths back while edging out 9-5 favorite Pop Idol for third. Cara Cara, Botta Swing, and Zana completed the order of finish.
Over firm ground, the final time of :55.63 was just .23 off the course record set by Silent Flash in 2022.
“This was my first time riding her on the turf,” Adams said. “Santino (trainer Santino DiPaola) did say she’s going to kick on the turf, and I watched the replays. I felt I had a lot of horse and the rail opened up, and when I asked her, she exploded. I didn’t need to look back — we were good. She gave a big kick.”
Little Teddy ($7.60) earned $60,000 for York Tech Racing Stable, which purchased the daughter of Frac Daddy for $15,000 at a local yearling sale.
DiPaola said he plans on running Little Teddy back on Oct. 25 in the $100,000 Eternal Search Stakes, a 7 1/2-furlong inner-turf event for Ontario-sired fillies and mares.
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