Sunday Stakes recaps (7/29/01)

Woodbine: Favorite gets perfect trip

ETOBICOKE Ontario - Heavily favored Molly's Wisdom parlayed a perfect stalking trip into a workmanlike win in the $133,500 Bull Page Stakes at Woodbine.

Molly's Wisdom stalked a three-way speed duel on the backstretch in the six-furlong dash for Ontario-sired male 2-year-olds. Mighty Quinn, All Star Lover, and Stormy Lover battled on the lead through fractions of 22.89 and 46.41 seconds.

Molly's Wisdom made a three-wide bid midway on the turn and came four-wide into the stretch. He wore down Mighty Quinn in the final furlong, and prevailed by a length in a time of 1:12.10. First-timer starter Young Whiz rallied belatedly to finish another 3 1/2 lengths back in third in the eight-horse field.

"He ran a monster race," said winning rider Emile Ramsammy.

Molly's Wisdom ($2.90), the first stakes winner for freshman sire Whiskey Wisdom, banked $80,100 for Molinaro Stable and trainer Vito Armata.

- Ron Gierkink

Emerald Downs: Makors Mark holds on

AUBURN, Wash. - Makors Mark forged to the front after six furlongs in 1:10.80 and withstood a determined late rally from Kittys Link to prevail by a length in the $86,250 Mt. Rainier Breeders' Cup Handicap at Emerald Downs. Makors Mark, a 4-year-old colt by Son of Briartic, got the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 under Gary Baze. He paid $7 to win as the second choice to even-money favorite Crowning Meeting, who was a distant third in the field of six.

It was the ninth win from 18 starts for Makors Mark, and the $55,000 winner's prize boosted his career earnings to $323,523. Trainer Dave Forster said the Washington-bred will race next in the Grade 3, $250,000 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs on Aug. 19.

- Dennis Dodge

Thistledown: Fervent Affair rallies in Lewis

Fervent Affair rallied from midpack while racing outside all the way to make the lead in midstretch under Lester Knight, then drew clear to register a one-length tally over his 12 Ohio-bred peers in the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial Handicap at Thistledown.

Fax a Freddy finished a game second, a head in front of Huw.

Fervent Affair ($5.80) got the nine furlongs in 1:51.42 over the fast racing surface.

- Chuck Scaravilli

France: Zipping along

At Maisons-Laffitte, the 3-1 Zipping caught British-invader Massarra in the final strides to take the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin for 2-year-olds by a neck, getting the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.30. Trained by Robert Collet, Zipping will now go for the six-furlong Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville on Aug. 26.

- Alan Shuback