Songs and Laughter easy winner of Bold Ruckus Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Songs and Laughter matched his solid turf pedigree while scoring comfortably in the $125,000 Bold Ruckus Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.

The unbeaten favorite, Aaronic Blessing, dueled with Beliveau through the turn in the six-furlong dash as Songs and Laughter saved ground in a stalking position.

Songs and Laughter angled wide for the drive and then collared the leaders inside the eighth pole before drawing clear for a two-length tally in 1:09.62 over the firm ground.

Beliveau, who caused a prerace delay due to a shoe problem, finished second by a neck over Ultraflame. Aaronic Blessing faded in the stretch to trail the six-horse field of Ontario-sired sophomores.

Songs and Laughter ($11.40) was the fourth winner on the card for jockey Eurico Da Silva, who got a leg up from trainer Bob Tiller on the gelded son of Singing Saint.

“I talked with Bob, and there was a lot of speed in the race,” Da Silva said. “He broke really sharp, and I just took him back. He’s a very easy horse to [rate]. He was running very relaxed. When I turned for home with lots of horse, he just went by them.”

Songs and Laughter earned $75,000 in his first stakes triumph for owner/breeder Rolph Davis, who won a turf stakes with his half-sister Laughing Falcon in 2013.