Signature Red by neck in Highlander

ETOBICOKE, Ontario -- Signature Red ($6.50) wore down pacemaker Heros Reward in the stretch to take the at Woodbine Sunday.

Maryland shipper Heros Reward, the 2008 Highlander winner, set fractions of 22.50 and 44.94 in the six-furlong turf sprint, with Signature Red in close proximity. Signature Red drew alongside Heros Reward at the top of the stretch, and they duked it out until the final strides before Signature Red prevailed by a neck in 1:08.17.

Jungle Wave, who like Signature Red, is trained by Sid Attard, finished another half-length back in third. Field Commission, the lukewarm favorite, rallied for fourth in the seven-horse field.

"He ran his guts out," said Attard of Signature Red. "There was no way he was going to let that horse go by him."

For winning his first stakes, Signature Red collected $120,000 for Norseman Racing Stable.