Pachi Cruze's rally gives him Frost King triumph

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Pachi Cruze ($3.40) dug in to win the $125,000 Frost King Stakes over the determined first-time starter Lokinforpursemonee at Woodbine on Sunday.

Pachi Cruze broke on top under Eurico Da Silva and set moderate fractions in the 5 1/2-furlong dash for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds. Lookinforpursemonee and Silent Flash loomed up outside of Pachi Cruze at the head of the stretch, and both went by him at the eighth pole, but he fought back in deep stretch to prevail by a head, in a time of 1:05.73.

Silent Flash finished three-quarters of a length back in third, in a field reduced to five after the scratch of morning-line favorite Marten River.

The Maryland-based Pachi Cruze earned $75,000 for owner/trainer Jose Corrales, who supplemented him to the race for $2,500.

“He broke very sharp, and I thought maybe he handled the track very well,” Corrales said. “I thought I had it, and then about the eighth pole, I thought at least I’m gonna finish third, but the horse came back.”