Sand Cove leads from start to finish in Seagram Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Sand Cove ($3.70) established a very slow pace and kept on going to take the Grade 3, $179,100 Seagram Cup Stakes at Woodbine Sunday.

With Richard Dos Ramos aboard, Sand Cove set fractions of 26.00, 50.38, and 1:13.76 in the 1 1/16-mile route while being pressed by Pool Play.

Sand Cove opened up a clear lead exiting the far turn and held off a closing Stunning Stag to win by a length. The winning time was 1:43.57.

Stunning Stag started slow and finished 2 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Field Commission. Pool Play faded to trail the field, which was reduced to four with the scratch of Eagle Poise.

Sand Dove earned $112,500 for owner Ralph Johnson and trainer Roger Attfield.

"He’s a lovely horse," Attfield said. "He’s a real competitor and a very interesting horse to train. He can be very aggressive in the barn, but then he comes out and he’s laid back."

*Favored Tree Pose ($5.80) led throughout Sunday’s supporting feature, the $127,400 Shady Well Stakes. Tree Pose covered six furlongs in 1:09.64 under Jono Jones in the sprint for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies.