Woodbine: Cryptograph wins again

Cryptograph, reprising his performance in the Oct. 15 Durham Cup over 1 1/8 miles, rallied strongly around the final turn en route to victory in the Grade 3, $165,600 .

Cryptograph, cutting back to 1 1/16 miles for the Woodbine Slots Cup, was kept closer to the pace than usual by rider Todd Kabel.

"It looked like there was going to be a hot pace in here, but nobody really pushed it," said Kabel. "That put us right in behind, just stalking perfect, and when I called on him he just exploded."

Cryptograph, coming widest of all into the stretch, was two lengths in front at the furlong pole and finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of runner-up Niigon.

Niigon, who also finished second in the Durham Cup, again tried to rally with Cryptograph, under new rider Patrick Husbands.

Powerful Touch, making his first start of the season, ended another three-quarters of a length back in third and 2 1/4 lengths ahead of fourth-place Ever So Free in the field of eight.

A claim of foul against Niigon by Ever So Free's rider, Emile Ramsammy, was disallowed.

Cryptograph, the 121-pound highweight, was clocked in 1:43.96 and returned $4.60 as the favorite while recording his second win in three local appearances. He is trained by Malcolm Pierce.

A Kentucky-bred 4-year-old homebred owned by Pin Oak Stable, Cryptograph was recording his seventh win in 18 career appearances and picked up $98,640 to bring his bankroll to $545,308.