Roscar takes Breeders' Stakes, anchor of Canadian Triple Crown

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Roscar scooted up the rail on the far turn under Justin Stein and went on to a comfortable score in the 134th running of the $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes, the anchor leg of the Canadian Triple Crown on Sunday at Woodbine.

Saccharine and Side Street completed a sweep of the top three positions in the 1 1/2-mile turf route for Chiefswoods Stables homebreds. Rachel Halden trains both Roscar and Saccharine.

Roscar ($8.50) assumed a stalking position along the inside on the backstretch behind the leading Thor’s Cause, who set moderate fractions while pressed by 4-5 favorite Hurricane Clair.

Roscar made his move to the lead at the five-sixteenths pole and then held off the filly Saccharine while prevailing by 1 1/2 lengths, in a time of 2:34.72 over the good ground.

Side Street finished another three lengths back in third and was followed by King Rosso, Thor’s Cause, Jokestar and Hurricane Clair. Saccharine and Side Street were both supplemented maidens.

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“We really liked this horse today,” Stein said. “He’s been showing a lot of talent and we thought he’d be sharp early leaving the gate, due to being off for seven weeks. It took a minute to settle him into stride, and he was literally towing me in behind traffic just waiting for a chance, and he did the rest.”

Stein has now won all three Canadian Triple Crown races - the 2012 Queen’s Plate on Strait of Dover and two runnings of the Prince of Wale Stakes at Fort Erie.

“It means a lot, because I’ve got them all now and it’s getting late in my career,” Stein said. “Some guys never get a chance to win them. I’ve very fortunate and blessed to have the support from the trainers and owners at Woodbine to get the job done.”

Halden said Roscar bypassed the King’s Plate in August after a dull performance in the June 9 Queenston Stakes.

“He’s had a bit of a mixed-up year, and we haven’t been able to get into a smooth rhythm with him,” Halden said. “The Plate was on our radar to begin with, but after the Queenston, it threw us off path a little bit, so we decided to wait and aim for his race. When it works out, it’s just really great.”

It was the third Breeders’ triumph for Chiefswood, following Neepawa in 2018 and Touch ‘n Ride last year. A gelded son of Oscar Performance, Roscar earned $240,000 in his first stakes victory.

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