Lorena surges late to win Algoma Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Lorena ($3.50) came from off the pace to win Sunday’s $100,400 Algoma, the first of four stakes on the Woodbine card for graduates of Canadian yearling sales.
Normally a front-runner, Lorena was rated in third on the backstretch in the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies. She began to make up ground on breakaway leader Owen’s Tour Guide on the turn, and then hit the front inside the eighth pole before holding off Jilli Marie in a 1 1/4-length score, in a time of 1:23.79.
Gary Boulanger rode Lorena, who earned $60,000 for a partnership that includes trainer Stuart Simon. She faded to ninth in her previous start in the Woodbine Oaks, which was her first loss in four starts and her only two-turn race.
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“We’d committed to running her the way she had worked and see her back off the pace, and make that tactical run, instead of being the target,” Boulanger said. “She got a little rubbery. She didn’t switch leads, but she was running and I wasn’t too concerned about it. She’s pretty gutsy. She gives you everything she has.”
Secret Reserve ($3.20) annexed the male 3-year-old equivalent of the Algoma, the $100,000 Elgin, impressively under Rafael Hernandez.
Secret Reserve came from third to overtake the leaders in midstretch en route to a 3 3/4-length victory, in a time of 1:22.30 for the seven furlongs.
“He was working good,” Hernandez said. “His last work, it was unbelievable. He galloped out super-great. That’s why we went to the seven-eighths.”
Trained by Mike Mattine, Secret Reserve earned $60,000 for owners Carlo D’Amato and Stacey Van Camp.
Baksheesh ($4.50) graduated in style in the $201,600 Muskoka for 2-year-old fillies, scoring by four lengths over longshot Thatsitthatsall. The final time for the 6 1/2 furlongs was 1:17.91.
Kazushi Kimura rode Baksheesh, who earned $120,000 for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber in her first start for that partnership. Winning trainer Ralph Biamonte said she will now move on to the barn of trainer Mark Casse.
Ironstone ($6.20) bucked what was arguably an anti-speed bias when romping home on top by 8 1/2 lengths while breaking his maiden in the $201,200 Simcoe for male 2-year-olds. He covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.61.
Ademar Santos got a leg up from trainer William Armata on Ironstone, who collected $120,000 for Tequesta Racing Inc. and Jupiter Leasing Co.