Wide trip no problem for Blue Laser in Grey Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Blue Laser outran Rockin Heat and Classic Legacy, who made an eye-catching premature move, to take the Grade 3, $253,250 Grey Stakes at Woodbine on Sunday.

Blue Laser went four-wide on the first turn in the 1 1/16-mile route for 2-year-olds, while three runners battled through fast fractions, including favored Bear’s Future. .

Blue Laser loomed into contention on the outside on the far turn, as Classic Legacy rallied five-wide from last to assume command early in the stretch, before drifting towards the rail. Blue Laser kept plugging along, and prevailed by a half-length, in a time of 1:45.78. Rockin Heat rallied to edge out Classic Legacy for second, and Bear’s Future faded to sixth in the nine-horse field.

Corey Fraser rode Blue Laser, who earned $150,000 in his stakes debut for WinStar Farm and trainer Mark Casse.

“I wasn’t too pleased going into the first turn, because we did get hung wide,” said Casse. “I thought Corey moved into a good position down the backside, and then [Classic Legacy] came flying by, and it looked like he was a winner. When [Classic Legacy] ducked in, I came out of my seat and went to the whip.”