Sir for Sure outruns Hall of Dreams in Breeders' Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Sir for Sure outran his favored stablemate Hall of Dreams in the stretch to win Sunday’s $400,400 Breeders’ Stakes, giving trainer Mark Casse a sweep of the exacta in the anchor leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

The win was redemption for jockey Declan Carroll, who won the Plate Trial Stakes on Sir for Sure before they wound up third behind Moira and Hall of Dreams in the Queen’s Plate. He fell off the huge gelding on the first turn in the Prince of Wales Stakes over a muddy track at Fort Erie, but he gave him a shrewd ride in the Breeders’, going 1 1/2 miles or one lap around the main turf at Woodbine.

Gaston and Prince of Wales winner Duke of Love dueled through honest fractions until the far turn, where Sir for Sure made a four-wide bid into contention after racing well off the early pace.

Hall of Dreams rallied inside under Patrick Husbands, but his bid fell 2 1/4 lengths short of Sir for Sure, who hit the front early in the lane before drawing away to prevail in a time of 2:28.88 over the firm ground.

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Lac Macaza finished third, and Dancin in Da’nile was disqualified from fourth to seventh for interference. Gaston was promoted from fifth to fourth in the nine-horse field of Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

“On the first turn, I wanted to be more forward, to be honest, because I knew he could stay all day,” Carroll said. “I didn’t want to be fanned wide, so I just took back and let him bide his time. Fortunately, he allowed me to do that with him. From there, it was a very smooth trip. He relished the turf, and it was exciting to see that. I may have hit the front too soon, but he kept going for me. He’s very kind in the bit, which makes my job easy.”

Sir for Sure paid $14.80 and the all-Casse exacta returned $47.30.

Sir for Sure earned $240,000 in his first stakes score for Rene Hunderup’s Heste Sport Inc. The son of Sligo Bay was bred in Ontario by Norse Ridge Farms.

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