Woodbine: James Street scores first stakes win in Seagram Cup

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - James Street notched his first stakes with determination under Patrick Husbands Saturday at Woodbine in the $161,100 Seagram Cup.

Court of the Realm, who was seeking his sixth consecutive win, set a sleepy pace in the mile and a sixteenth route, with most of the field in close proximity. James Street raced five-wide in a stalking position until the far turn, where he made a four-wide bid. He hit the front early in the stretch before holding off Stunning Stag to score by a head, in a time of 1:44.01.

Sand Cove, last year’s Seagram Cup winner, finished another 2 3/4 lengths back in third, and favored Court of the Realm faded to sixth in the seven-horse field.

James Street, who collected $90,000 for Melnyk Racing Stable, changed trainers prior to the Grade 3 event, going from Mark Casse to Josie Carroll.

“I was very fortunate that Mr. Melnyk sent me this lovely horse,” said Carroll. “He’s in very good order. He relaxed very well today. I was pleased to see that, and I thought Patrick rode him extremely well.