Woodbine: Barbeau Ruckus by a neck

Mister Coop beat a troubled Barbeau Ruckus when they met a month ago in the six-furlong New Providence Stakes, but the tables were turned Saturday at Woodbine when Barbeau Ruckus nailed Mister Coop on the wire in the $126,600 Steady Growth Stakes.

Barbeau Ruckus set honest early fractions in the 1 1/16-mile event. Mister Coop made a wide bid on the far turn and established a clear lead early in the stretch, but then began to drift in a little. Jockey Todd Kabel took Barbeau Ruckus outside of Mister Coop at the sixteenth pole, and they surged late to prevail by a neck.

Kent Ridge finished another 5 1/2 lengths back in third in the nine-horse field of Ontario-sired runners. The final time was 1:45.69.

Barbeau Ruckus, who won the 2003 Steady Growth, returned $3.80 as the favorite and earned $75,000. He is trained by Ross Armata.