Soaring Free sizzles in turf debut

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Soaring Free made quite a splash in his turf debut at Woodbine Sunday, capturing the Grade 2 Nearctic Handicap while equaling Spring Barley's six-furlong course record.

Soaring Free broke on top from the outside post under Todd Kabel, and then battled with longshots Relaunch Star and Chris's Bad Boy through fractions of :22.92 and :44.35.

Soaring Free assumed command coming out of the turn, as Nuclear Debate loomed into serious contention on the outside. Soaring Free drew off in the final three-sixteenths under left-handed urging to prevail by 3 1/4 lengths over Solitary Dancer, who edged Nuclear Debate by a head for second. Montezuma's Gold finished fourth in the 11-horse field. The final time was 1:07.73.

"I was really looking forward to riding him on the turf," said Kabel. "He showed his stuff today. He's really turned around since he was gelded. He's a very good horse."

Soaring Free, who returned $6.20 in winning his first stakes, has won five of nine starts for Sam-Son Farm and trainer Mark Frostad. He banked $171,900 of the $286,500 purse.