Woodbine

Woodbine: Fifty Proof shows versatility by taking Eclipse

Ron Gierkink|May 28, 2011

Michael Burns Fifty Proof, whose previous best races had been on turf, upsets the Eclipse at 10-1.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario—The former turf expert Fifty Proof won his first stakes on Polytrack at Woodbine in Saturday's Grade 3, $171,900 Eclipse.

Fifty Proof ($22.70) tracked the heavily favored Exhi through honest fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route, before assuming command at the head of the stretch. He opened up a daylight lead at the eighth pole, and then held off Don Cavallo to prevail by a half-length, in a time of 1:42.56. Stunning Stag edged out So Elite for third, and Exhi faded to trail the six-horse field.

Justin Stein rode the massive Fifty Proof for trainer Ian Black.

“It was a wonderful performance,” said Black. “He’s always worked well on the Poly, but to be perfectly honest, I wasn’t 100 percent [sure] that he was as good on it. I think he proved today that [the surface] doesn’t matter.”

Fifty Proof collected $108,000 for the partnership of Kinghaven Farm, John Fielding and Ben Hutzel.

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