Way to Versaille noses Smiling Causeway in Royal North

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Way to Versailles ($21.20) nosed out the Maryland invader Smiling Causeway to notch her first stakes win in Sunday’s Grade 2, $177,550 Royal North at Woodbine Sunday.

Way to Versailles raced between rivals about four lengths off the lead on the turn, while Kasuga set quick fractions in the six-furlong turf sprint.

Way to Versailles began to mount a wide rally at the head of the stretch, and then dueled with Smiling Causeway in the final sixteenth before getting home top in a final time of 1:08 over the firm ground.

The favored New Yorker Lull edged out last year’s Royal North winner, Jennifer Lynnette, for third. Corps de Ballet, Kasuga, Tulsa Queen, Victory to Victory, Code Warrior, and Will She completed the order of finish.

Trained by Kevin Attard, the former front-runner Way to Versailles was coming off a second-level allowance score from off the pace.

“I did more-less the same thing that I did in the last race,” jockey Eurico Da Silva said. “She was very happy coming from behind. She was running very relaxed. She was there for me when I needed her. She’s a wonder filly.”

Way to Versailles, a 4-year-old by Tizway, banked $105,000 for owner Mahamoud Pootoolal.