William T catches Maycocks Bay in Durham Cup
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - William T caught the 1-5 favorite Maycocks Bay late to land his first added-money event in the Grade 3, $200,900 Durham Cup, the featured stakes on Saturday’s Woodbine card.
Maycocks Bay, a Maryland shipper who won the Grade 3 Eclipse on a big lead here May 30, set honest fractions in the Durham Cup with Sedburys Ghost in close proximity.
William T saved ground in third and then took dead aim at Maycocks Bay in the stretch after Fraser Aebly angled him outside. William T went on to prevail by a half-length, in a time of 1:42.54 for the 1 1/16 miles.
Sedburys Ghost faded to finish third and was followed by War Court and Friendly Ghost.
Trainer Don MacRae said he supplemented William T to the Durham Cup when it became apparent that the field was coming up light. The son of Frosted was exiting an overdue but impressive conditioned allowance score.
“We knew who was going in here,” MacRae said. “It was going to be a small field and (we thought) we’d take a shot. I thought he could be third or second for sure, but when he angled out, everyone up there was screaming for us. It was a good time, for sure.”
William T ($9.70) earned $126,000 for owner Michael Lay. The gelding was bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms.
*** Epic Style rallied from 10 lengths off the pace to annex Saturday’s six-furlong Sweet Briar Too Stakes on the main turf by 1 1/4 lengths over a closing Quadruple.
Miss Vyvyanne set rapid fractions before fading late to third. Without Cause checked in fourth in the seven-horse field of fillies and mares.
Trained by Mike Stidham, Epic Style was the fourth winner on the card for Woodbine leading rider Pietro Moran.
“It set up perfect,” Moran said. “She’s a classy filly. She broke great. I was able to find myself all by myself. She was comfortable and she’s got some kick.”
Assistant trainer Parker Hendriks has lots of admiration for the diminutive Epic Style, a 4-year-old daughter of Good Magic.
“We’re incredibly lucky to be working with her,” Hendriks said. “Anybody who saw her in the paddock, she doesn’t need a lip chain. She just walks around totally classy, super relaxed. She’s a real pleasure to train every day. With the long (stretch) on the outer turf, it really set up for her today.”
Epic Style returned $5.30 as the favorite and banked $75,000 of the $125,000 purse in her first stakes score for Speedyway Stables.
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