Woodbine: Front-running Something Extra holds on in Mt. Sassafras

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Something Extra held off a surging Court of the Realm to take the $100,200 Mt. Sassafras, the first of two overnight stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.

Something Extra ($8.10) led all the way in the seven-furlong sprint, setting fractions of 22.65 and 44.64 seconds. He prevailed by three-quarters of a length, in a time of 1:22.22, over a Polytrack that took considerable rain throughout the day. Run to the Bank rallied for third in the six-horse field, while favored Big Band Sound faded to fifth after tracking Something Extra on the backstretch.

Eurico Da Silva rode Something Extra, who earned $60,000 for the partnership of John Menary and trainer Gail Cox.

River Memories: Magic Broomstick up in time

Magic Broomstick ($7.90) caught favored All Star Heart late to notch her second consecutive stakes in the $105,600 River Memories, which was moved from the grass to the Polytrack.

With Emma Wilson aboard, Magic Broomstick rallied strongly down the center of the track from well back to prevail by a half-length, in a time of 1:41.48 for a mile and 70 yards. Chokurei finished a head behind All Star Heart in third, in a field reduced to 10 after two scratches.

Magic Broomstick, who was coming off a victory in the Avowal Stakes, collected $60,000 for Sam-Son Farm and trainer Malcolm Pierce.