Wando takes Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Despite getting stepped on by another horse, favored Wando took the Grade 2 with authority at Woodbine Sunday.

Wando tracked the pace along the rail under Richard Migliore in the mile and a sixteenth event for 2-year-olds, as Cyberdevil set fractions of :23.16 and :47.87 seconds. Gigawatt took control on the far turn and opened up a clear lead at the quarter pole, but Wando blew by him at the eighth pole en route to a three and three-quarter-length score, a final time of 1:45.10 seconds.

Wando came out of the race with a cut above his right hind ankle.

"He got stepped on on the first turn," said Migliore. "There was a considerable amount of blood when he pulled up. He sat in the pocket for a long time, and I had a pretty strong hold of him. When I started to ask him at the five-sixteenths pole, it took him about a sixteenth of a mile to get in gear, but he exploded when he got in the clear, and then he just idled. He's a very good colt."

In spite of the injury, Wando is likely headed to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Arlington on Oct. 26, according to trainer Mike Keogh.

Wando ($4.30) earned $164,100 of the $265,250 purse for owner/breeder Gustav Schickedanz.

Grand rallied to finish third in the six-horse field. Rights Reserved, Christmas Away and Cyberdevil completed the order of finish.