Seffeara fights through traffic to win Bold Ruckus

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Seffeara drew off in the final furlong under Gary Boulanger to take the $125,000 Bold Ruckus Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.

Normally a frontrunner, Seffeara was bottled up along the rail in the middle of a tightly bunched pack as Masquerade Party set rapid fractions in the six-furlong sprint. After being angled wide for the drive, he kicked in strongly to prevail by 3 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:09.13.

Super Colerosa weakened to third after bidding for the lead on the turn, and Masquerade Party faded to fourth in the seven-horse field of Ontario-sired 3-year-olds. Only Undercover Cat was scratched after the race was taken off the soggy turf course.

Seffeara ($14.90) earned $75,000 for Empress Stable and trainer Steve Owens.

“He’s diversified,” said Owens. “Last year, he was totally a frontrunner. This year, he’s grown and settled into his body.”

Checkered Past ($20.10) captured Saturday’s supporting feature, the $116,400 Trillium Stakes, for the second year in a row under Eurico Da Silva.

Checkered Past scored by a neck over the pacemaker Unspurned in a time of 1:43.29 for the 1 1/16 miles. The Malcolm Pierce-trained 5-year-old mare is owned by Sam-Son Farm.