Mighty Heart leads all the way in Autumn Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart wired a quality field in a gritty performance under Patrick Husbands in Sunday’s Grade 2 Autumn Stakes at Woodbine.

After breaking from the outside post 7, Mighty Heart darted out to a clear lead and set quick fractions in the 1 1/16-mile event, while being chased by longshots Embolden and Primo Touch.

Halo Again and Special Forces both made bids in the stretch before weakening, and favored Sir Winston came charging on the far outside, but Mighty Heart dug in to win by three-quarters of a length over the latter.

Special Forces finished another length back in third. He was followed by Halo Again, Primo Touch, Embolden, and Faraway Kitten.

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The final time of 1:42.51 was just .35 off Woodbine’s synthetic track record.

“I put him in the race, and he showed he’s a true champion,” Husbands said. “He’s a galloper. I tried not to take a hold of him today. I just let him enjoy himself. When I chirped at him, he accelerated and, after the wire, he ran off on me again.”

Mighty Heart was coming off a subpar fourth behind Special Forces, Sir Winston and Halo Again in the Grade 3 Durham Cup, in which trainer Josie Carroll said the one-eyed horse lost a shoe.

Mighty Heart ($9.20) earned $126,000 of the $197,750 purse for owner-breeder Larry Cordes. The victory makes the 4-year-old son of Dramedy the leading contender for Sovereign Award honors as champion older male on the main track in Canada.