Marchfield outduels Champs Elysees

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Marchfield prevailed in his own little battle with Champs Elysees, and he won the war as well in the Grade 2, $277,075 at Woodbine on Sunday.

Marlang set an honest the pace in the 1 3/8-mile mile turf race, while being stalked by favored Rahy's Attorney and Woodbourne, who was supposed to be Marchfield's rabbit.

Marchfield and Champs Elysees both raced far off the lead on the backstretch, and they began to rally in unison on the far turn. Marchfield went a little better in the late going, and won by a half-length, in a time of 2:16.56 over the good going. Medjool finished 2 3/4 lengths behind Champs Elysees in third, and Rahy's Attorney faded to sixth in the eight-horse field.

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

"I tried to get him as close as possible, but he didn't want no part of it," said Husbands. "When I turned for home, he just took off the last part of it."

Marchfield, last year's champion older runner in Canada, earned $172,500, which boosted his bankroll to more than $1.1 million.

Hello Maggie May prevailed under Chantal Sutherland in Sunday's supporting feature, the $100,000 Belle Geste Stakes, a seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-bred females.

Hello Maggie May joined favored Saskawea and Mullins Beach on the lead at the top of the stretch, and wore them down in the final sixteenth to win by a half-length over Mullins Beach. Saskawea finished another neck back in third in the five-horse field.

Hello Maggie May ($15.10) completed the distance in 1:23.41, and earned $60,000 for Windhaven and trainer Roger Attfield.