Woodbine: Forte Dei Marmi repeats in Sky Classic Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The favored Forte Dei Marmi ($4.40) won the Grade 2 Sky Classic Stakes for the second year in a row Sunday at Woodbine and lowered the 1 1/4-mile course record under Eurico Rosa da Silva.

After racing in fifth on the backstretch, Forte Dei Marmi commenced a three-wide rally on the far turn and then hit the front near the eighth pole before drawing clear for a 2 1/4-length tally over Hampstead Heath.

After pressing a moderate early pace, Grand Arch wound up third. He was followed by Hotep, Irish Mission, Perfect Timber, Classic Bryce, and Peyton.

Over firm ground, the final time was 2:00.12, which was 0.48 seconds faster than the previous record set by Seaside Retreat in 2008.

“He’s very professional,” da Silva said. “I let him be very relaxed, and when he saw daylight, he started running, and he ran very fast.”

Forte Dei Marmi, a 7-year-old gelding trained by Roger Attfield, collected $120,000 of the $212,000 purse for owner Stella Perdomo.