Three in a Bag wins Plate Trial

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Dance With Ravens prevailed over New York shipper Three in a Bag in a gutsy performance in the $164,300 Sunday at Woodbine, but was disqualified for interference in a controversial decision.

Dance With Ravens drifted out in unison with the two horses to his inside, Out From Africa and Get Down, shortly after the break and then clipped heels with Atanas, who stumbled. He went on to stalk the pace from a three-wide position, as Out From Africa set moderate fractions while being pressed by Get Down.

Three in a Bag commenced a four-wide rally from seventh on the backstretch, and hooked up with Dance With Ravens on the lead in mid-stretch. Dance With Ravens dug in through the final 70 yards and got home on top by a neck, completing the nine furlongs in a time of 1:52.52 seconds. Get Down, the 7-5 favorite, finished another two and a quarter lengths back in the seven-horse field.

After a stewards' inquiry, Dance With Ravens was placed sixth. Steward Richard Grubb said the disqualification of Dance With Ravens was obligatory. "We had to disqualify him," Grubb explained. "He drifted out, caught Atanas' heels and (Atanas) nearly went down."

Three in the Bag ($8.10) earned $98,100 in his first stakes victory for Castletop Stable and trainer Stanley Hough.