Solidify's four-wide surge takes Grey Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Solidify took the long way home from the back of the pack under Emma-Jayne Wilson to win the Grade 3 Grey Stakes for 2-year-olds at Woodbine on Sunday.

Solidify ($10.30) bided his time on the outside about four lengths behind on the backstretch, as Chuck Willis set honest fractions in the 1 1/16-mile event.

The favored Nashtrick loomed three wide into contention on the far turn, where Solidify began to mount a four-wide bid. Solidify hit the front early in the stretch, as Nashtrick began to tire, and then held off an inside charge from Tripwire to prevail by a half-length in a time of 1:43.90.

Sir Winston finished third, and Nashtrick faded to seventh in the eight-horse field.

Wilson also rode the Reade Baker-trained Solidify when he graduated at first asking in a seven-furlong maiden special Sept. 23.

“He’s a good horse,” Wilson said. “He was really classy the first time he ran. I split horses, and he held off a tough favorite. I said to Reade that day he’s a good horse, and he’ll go farther, and he’ll do anything you ask. It was a little quick the first bit (today). I dropped him to the inside, let him get settled, and come with a run. When I pulled the trigger, it was like a shot out of a cannon.”

A son of Tapizar, Solidify is a full brother to Peppered, who was second in last year’s Grey. He earned $75,000 of the $130,250 purse for owners Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch.