Shipper Arzak dominates Jacques Cartier
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Maryland-based Arzak beat all of the best male sprinters at Woodbine in front-running fashion in Sunday’s Grade 3 Jacques Cartier, his second straight local stakes victory under Kazushi Kimura.
Arzak set sail on an uncontested lead in the six-furlong sprint and set a moderate pace while being tracked by Secret Reserve, Silent Poet and Souper Stonehenge.
Arzak maintained a daylight advantage throughout and coasted home on top by 1 1/2 lengths, in a posted final time of 1:08.91.
Tap It to Win rallied inside for second, while morning-line favorite Souper Stonehenge edged out a green Striker for third. Silent Poet, Lenny K and Secret Reserve completed the order of finish.
“He’s a nice horse,” Kimura said. “I just focused on creating a trip. I dropped the lines and just showed natural speed, wire to wire. He doesn’t have to go to the lead. I just (didn’t) want too much choking and too much pushing. I wanted to drop the lines and get him comfortable, and then he’s going to show up (in the) stretch.”
Arzak returned $6.50 as the favorite and earned $90,000 of the $151,200 purse for Sonata Stable. The son of Not This Time is trained by Mike Trombetta and was saddled by substitute trainer Darren Glennon. They sent the 4-year-old out to win the Thorncliffe Stakes on opening weekend here April 17.