Woodbine: Duel aids Runaway Love

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Runaway Love, the longest shot in the four-horse field, overhauled Krz Ruckus in the final furlong to post a three-quarter-length score in the $126,000 Shepperton Stakes at Woodbine.

Krz Ruckus and Trailthefox dueled each other into submission in the 2001 Shepperton, and the same pace scenario played out in this year's running of the 6 1/2-furlong dash for Ontario-sired runners. That duo hooked up through splits of 22.21 and 44.69 seconds, before favored Krz Ruckus gave way to Runaway Love, who got the distance in 1:16.97.

Runaway Love ($12.70) earned $79,380 with Emile Ramsammy aboard.

"I think the blinkers on sharpened him up today," said trainer Abraham Katryan, who sent out Runaway Love to finish third in allowance company last Saturday.

* Noble Strike ($8.70) notched her first stakes in the supporting feature, the $107,000 Belle Geste, a 1 1/8-mile race for Canadian-bred fillies and mares.

Trainer Ron Burke gave Robert Landry a leg up on Noble Strike, who rallied wide to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:47.27.