Silent Poet digs in to win Nearctic

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Silent Poet proved to be sentimental winner of Sunday’s Grade 2 Nearctic for trainer Nick Gonzalez, who recently lost his wife and assistant, Martha, after a two-year battle with cancer.

Silent Poet ($5.40) was tracked by last year’s Nearctic winner, City Boy, through soft fractions of 23.65 seconds and 46.16 in the six-furlong turf sprint. Silent Poet dug in gamely through the stretch to prevail by a half-length, in a time of 1:08.57 under Justin Stein.

“The community here at Woodbine, I’m sure they were cheering big for this horse, for reasons that we all know,” Stein said. “He just leaves the gate so quick. He hits his stride right away. A horse like that, you get position, slow him down, and save as much horse as you can. He does the rest. He loves his job, and when you ask him to run, he gives you everything. He tows you down the lane.”

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City Boy secured second over Maryland invader Kanthaka. Olympic Runner rallied inside for fourth, and was followed by Guildsman, Blind Ambition, Lady Grace, and Vanbrugh.

By leading Ontario sire Silent Name, Silent Poet collected $180,000 of the $290,000 purse in his fourth win of the meet for Stronach Stables.