Melmich delivers as Dominion Day favorite

ETOBICOKE, Ontario—The favored Melmich rallied four-wide from a trailing fifth to capture the Grade 3, $156,000 Dominion Day Stakes on Canada Day holiday Friday at Woodbine.

Melmich ($6) covered the 10-furlong distance in 2:04.06 while scoring by 1 1/2 lengths over Breaking Lucky. Eurico Da Silva rode the winner for trainer Kevin Attard, who claimed him for $20,000 in 2014 on behalf of owners Stephen Chesney and Cory Hoffman.

“My horse was relaxed,” said Da Silva. “I was watching the other horses, and he was there for me any time I needed him. The longer he goes, the better he is. He’s a very nice horse.”

Scuba finished third, and War Dancer faded to fourth after dueling through moderate fractions with the faltering Saratoga shipper, Red Rifle.

The Roger Attfield-trained Internal Bourbon ($17.80) notched her first stakes for owner Charles Fipke in the $100,000 Zadracarta.

Internal Bourbon prevailed by a neck in the seven-furlong turf sprint, covering the distance in 1:22.70 under Alan Garcia. Conquest Strate Up wound up third, while the heavily favored Southern Ring faded to fourth after setting a lively pace.