Midnight Mascot catches Adios Now late, takes Woodstock Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Favored Midnight Mascot won an early King’s Plate prep on Sunday at Woodbine, the $143,000 Woodstock Stakes for 3-year-olds, for the dynamic duo of jockey Patrick Husbands and trainer Mark Casse.

The winter-raced Gulfstream invader Adios Now set dawdling fractions in the six-furlong sprint with Tunechi in close proximity, while Midnight Mascot saved ground in third.

Husbands angled Midnight Mascot outside for the drive and they collared Adios Now late en route to a three-quarter-length tally, in a time of 1:10.71.

Maryland-based Naptown checked in third after a wide trip. He was followed by Break the Spell, Tunechi and Countryboysurvive.

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Earlier this week, Husbands was announced as a 2024 inductee into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. The 50-year-old journeyman was also aboard when Midnight Mascot finished a close second in his last start in the Dec. 2 Clarendon Stakes for Ontario-breds.

“The last time I rode him, unfortunately, we should have won,” Husbands recalled. “I wanted to get the chance to ride him back. Through this whole race, I tried to run at (Adios Now) and when we straightened up, it was only a matter of time how far (we’d win by). He was much the best.”

Midnight Mascot ($4.10) earned $90,000 for owners Manfred and Penny Conrad. The $200,000 yearling purchase by Army Mule is out of a full sister to 2013 Plate winner Midnight Aria.

This year’s $1 million Plate goes Aug. 17.

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