Marchfield just misses track record

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Marchfield mowed down the front-running Approval Rating in deep stretch to take the Grade 3, $221,900 Dominion Day Stakes at Woodbine on Wednesday.

Approval Rating set tepid middle fractions in the 1 1/4-mile Polytrack event, as Marchfield trailed heading into the first turn. Marchfield lacked room at the three-eighths pole, and then commenced a strong rally at the quarter pole after getting clear.

Marchfield ($8.30) blew by Approval Rating with 70 yards left, and scored by 1 3/4 lengths in 2:03.63, just .12 of a second off the track record. Vacation, the 4-5 favorite from New York, finished four lengths behind the winner in third in the eight-horse field.

Patrick Husbands rode Marchfield for Melnyk Racing Stable and trainer Mark Casse.

"I had a choice to go either five-wide, or dash to the rail [on the far turn]," said Husbands. "I dashed to the rail, and realized just one horse was running. He just ran {Approval Rating] down."

Marchfield, last year's champion older male in Canada, earned $138,000, boosting his bankroll to $868,476.

* Simply Splendid ($7.90) won her first stakes in the supporting feature on the Canada Day card, the $103,850 Sweet Briar Too Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares.

Simply Splendid stalked the pace along the inside under Chantal Sutherland, and then overhauled favored Verdana Bold in midstretch en route to a 5 3/4-length win, in a time of 1:22.25.

Executive Flight wound up second, and Verdana Bold faded to third in the six-horse field. Authenicat and Remarkable Remy were scratched.

Simply Splendid earned $60,000 for the partnership of John Menary and trainer Gail Cox.

* Jockey Robert Landry registered career win number 2,000 aboard 12-1 shot Firetheexecutive in Wednesday's ninth race.