Souper Diva wins Victorian Queen; Silver Is Best takes Bull Page
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Souper Diva recorded another front-running stakes win on Sunday at Woodbine in the $100,000 Victorian Queen with Jose Campos along for the ride.
Souper Diva ($6.20) established a clear lead down the backstretch in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired juvenile fillies and then turned away a challenge from Sipping History in the stretch en route to a two-length score, in a time of 1:17.84.
Sipping History finished 3 1/2 lengths ahead of stablemate Pageant Queen, while Arianna’s Tour wound up fourth in the field of seven.
Souper Diva was coming off a victory in the $200,000 Muskoka for graduates of Canadian yearling sales on Aug. 24, going the same distance as the Victorian Queen.
“It took her a couple of starts to figure out her job,” trainer Stever Chircop said. “She worked really good going into the last race. The work in the interim was really good, too. The three-week return was probably a bigger concern more than anything. I knew that if anybody wanted to go with her, they were going to be punished early.”
Souper Diva collected $60,000 for 6 Deep Stable, which purchased the daughter of Souper Speedy for $23,000 at last year’s Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.
*** Silver Is Best ($8.40) won the male version of the Victorian Queen, the $100,000 Bull Page, by 2 1/4 lengths under David Moran for trainer Bill Tharrenos.
Favored Big Bold and First dueled with Bold Ronin up front in the 6 1/2-furlong event while Silver Is Best saved ground in a stalking position, with the debuting B the King to his outside.
B The King made the lead early in stretch before Silver Is Best kicked in late to score in a slow time of 1:18.78. Bank On Big Winner finished another six lengths back in third as Big Bold and First faded to fourth in the six-horse field.
Silver Is Best graduated second time out in a quick clocking before a disappointing sixth-place finish behind his victorious stablemate, Big Bold and First, in the restricted Simcoe Stakes on Aug. 24.
“We thought he would win his last race, but for whatever reason, it didn’t happen for him,” Moran said. “He was actually much more relaxed pre-race. He left the gate really good. I just waited to get clear and then he kicked in like he thought he could. He just loves to run.”
Silver Is Best earned $60,000 for owner Mike Coll, who bought the son of Signature Red for $25,000 at the yearling sale at Woodbine.
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