'Sphynx' gets first stakes win in Woodbine's Fury

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Eye of the Sphynx ($5) turned back a bid from favored Silver Bird before drawing off to notch her first stakes Sunday at Woodbine in the $163,200 , seven-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies.

Eye of the Sphynx went directly to the front under Todd Kabel, setting splits of :23.02 and :46.24 while being stalked by several runners. Silver Bird hit the front at the head of the stretch, but Eye of the Sphynx repelled the challenge and went on to score by three and a quarter lengths. My Vintage Port was a distant third in the seven-horse field of Canadian-breds. The final time, over a muddy track, was 1:23.32.

"She broke sharp, and was very relaxed throughout the whole race," said Kabel. "Silver Bird put some pressure on me, but once my horse switched leads, she just kicked on."

Eye of the Sphynx, who earned $97,920, is unbeaten in two starts for Sam-Son Farm and trainer Mark Frostad.