Synchrony overcomes trouble en route to King Edward victory

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Synchrony ($4.20) overcame some trouble in the far turn and rallied from last at the top of the stretch to win the Grade 2, $178,850 King Edward Stakes by a length over Curlin’s Honor on Saturday at Woodbine.

Synchrony was in the pocket position along the rail early on, as Mr Ritz took the field through opening fractions of 23.65 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.34 seconds for the opening half-mile.

Curlin’s Honor was stalking Mr Ritz early and began to apply pressure through the far turn. Meanwhile, Synchrony got caught in traffic and was shuffled back to last along the rail. Curlin’s Honor took the lead from Mr Ritz at the top of the stretch and seemed clear, before Synchrony found another gear along the outside to win by a length in 1:32.95 for a mile on the E. P. Taylor Turf Course.

“I think he showed some class in the race,” said winning jockey Javier Castellano, who won the King Edward Stakes last year with Delta Prince. “I had a lot of trouble on the backside early in the race. I kind of switched him up a little bit. I was able to ride with a lot of patience and I think I rode the best horse in the race. I wanted to show he improved today and he really did it.”

Michael Stidham trains Synchrony, a Pin Oak Stable homebred. The 6-year-old son of Tapit improved his career record to nine wins from 23 starts, and banked the $105,000 winner’s share with his victory in the King Edward. He came into the race off of a neck loss to Almanaar in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park on May 25.