My Covenant leads all the way in Sophomore Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - My Covenant went straight to the lead and never looked back to land his second stakes in a row in Saturday’s $130,000 Sophomore at Woodbine.

My Covenant ($12.90) outran Z Z’s for the early advantage in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint before opening up a clear lead at the quarter pole.

Plate Trial Stakes victor Highwaytothemoon rallied inside from a trailing fifth to take dead aim at My Covenant in the final furlong, but the latter held on to prevail by a length, in a time of 1:16.03.

Meilani parlayed an inside/stalking trip into a third-place finish. Reb Five and a fading Z Z’s completed the order of finish.

Pietro Moran rode My Covenant for trainer Audrey Cheung. Woodbine’s leading rider was also aboard when the son of Souper Speedy won the Sept. 7 Lake Erie Stakes on the dirt at Fort Erie and an Ontario-sired allowance sprint on the main turf here Aug. 21.

“He always breaks sharp,” Moran said. “Today, he broke sharp again. He made the lead, he was comfortable, and down the lane, he fights hard.”

My Covenant earned $75,000 for the partnership of Mad Dog Racing Stables and former National League Hockey star Mike Robitaille.

“He’s turned out to be really nice this year — he’s really matured,” Cheung said. “He’s a pleasure to work with.”

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