Unzip Me cruises in Royal North

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Southern California shipper Unzip Me ($3.40) proved a comfortable winner under Joe Talamo in the Grade 3, $157,400 Royal North Stakes at Woodbine Monday.

It was the sixth score in the last seven starts for Unzip Me, who pressed the front-running Mother Russia through quick fractions of 22.37 and 44.83 seconds in the six-furlong turf sprint. Talamo sat chilly on Unzip Me until just before the eighth pole, where she made the lead before drawing clear to prevail by two lengths in 1:08.05.

Mullins Beach ran evenly to end up third, and the California-based Minute Limit finished a nonthreatening fourth in the six-horse field of fillies and mares.

“I had such a great trip, and she’s so versatile,” said Talamo. “I know in all of her races, that she’s been on the lead, but she definitely doesn’t need it. She broke real sharp, and I sat outside [Mother Russia]. She was so settled. She did all the work down the lane.”

Unzip Me collected $90,000 for the partnership of Don Valpredo, John Harris, Per Antonsen, and trainer Marty Jones.