Sand Cove has no problem taking Overskate

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The $127,400 Overskate Stakes on Wednesday night at Woodbine seemed wide open, but favored Sand Cove proved a comfortable winner of the Ontario-sired event, giving trainer Roger Attfield a meet-leading 11th stakes victory.

Sand Cove broke from the outside post in the 11-horse field under Jono Jones, and they stalking a slow pace from a three-wide position on the turn. Sand Cove hit the front near the sixteenth pole before drawing off to win by 2 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:22.33 for the seven furlongs.

Mobil Unit finished second at 22-1, and pacemakers Daniel Be Good and Drunken Love filled out a superfecta that returned $2,196.10.

Sand Cove was coming off a lackluster performance as the heavy favorite in the restricted Elgin Stakes.

“He didn’t run his race that day, but there was no apparent physical reason,” said assistant trainer Nancy Sullivan. “He went to the farm, had a little holiday thereafter, and came back in and is right back on track.”

Sand Cove ($8.20) collected $75,000 for owner Ralph Johnson, which boosted his bankroll to $863,482.