Palladio makes most of opportunity

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Palladio ($20.40) kicked clear from the pack in the stretch en route to a decisive score in the at Woodbine Saturday.

The makeup of the Grade 2 event changed with the scratches of Ice Bear, Stunning Stag and Eye of the Leopard, and Palladio made the most of it under an excellent ride by Richard Dos Ramos.

Palladio raced about five lengths off the lead on the backstretch before looming into contention on the far turn. He hit the front early in the stretch, and then drew clear to prevail by two lengths over the pace-pressing Awesome Rhythm. Pool Play barely beat out Sligovitz for third, and the surprising favorite from Hastings, Teide, finished fifth in the nine-horse field.

"I got him covered up," said Dos Ramos. "He usually runs his best races that way. There was a little hole at the head of the lane, and I was hoping that he wouldn't hesitate, and he didn't. When I got through, I knew it was all over then."

Palladio, trained by Roger Attfield for Haras Santa Maria de Araras, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.74. First money of $90,000 boosted his bankroll to past the $1 million mark.