Red Cabernet has first stakes win in Victoriana

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Red Cabernet closed stoutly down the center of the course from well back under Emma-Jayne Wilson to notch her first stakes in Saturday’s $100,000 Victoriana at Woodbine.

The favored Niigon’s Eclipse dueled for the early lead with Silent Sonet, before opening up a clear lead on the turn in the 1 1/16-mile route for Ontario-sired females. Sugar Jones took a run at Niigon’s Eclipse early in the stretch, while Red Cabernet was commencing her rally.

Red Cabernet mowed down Niigon’s Eclipse with about a furlong left, and then drew off to prevail by 3 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:41.34 over the “good” turf.

Sugar Jones, Crumlin Queen, Adopted Family, and Silent Sonet completed the order of finish.

A powerful chestnut by Signature Red, Red Cabernet ($15.80) banked $60,000 for Piano Bar Racing and trainer Ian Black.

Daring Duchess wins Flaming Page

Daring Duchess ($9.10) got away with soft fractions in a gate-to-wire score over the determined 3-year-old, Get Explicit, in Saturday’s $100,000 Flaming Page, an overnight turf marathon.

Daring Duchess covered the 12-furlong distance in 2:31.16, under Rafael Hernandez. Get Explicit finished 3 3/4 lengths back in second, while the favored Creative Thinking edged out Giovanna Blues for third, in a field reduced to seven after the scratch of Lottie.

A 6-year-old daughter of Arch trained by Mike Maker, Daring Duchess earned $60,000 for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey. She was coming off an uncharacteristically poor performance in the Grade 3 Modesty at Arlington.

“Everybody has a bad day, and we chalked up her last race at Arlington to just a bad day,” assistant trainer Nolan Ramsey said. “We got the perfect trip today. She’s a giant (mare). Everybody loves her. It worked out great.”