Woodbine: Maiden surprises

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Maryland invader Master William, a maiden trained by Michael Dickinson, rallied powerfully to take the $250,000 Cup and Saucer Stakes for Canadian-bred 2-year-olds at Woodbine.

Master William ($29.40) had just one runner beaten in the 14-horse field midway on the backstretch of the 1 1/16-mile turf race. He commenced a four-wide rally on the turn under Patrick Husbands, and hooked up with Silver Ticket early in the stretch. Master William began to edge away from that one inside the eighth pole, and prevailed by a half-length, in a final time of 1:42.46.

Silver Ticket, who helped set quick fractions, ended up 5 1/4 lengths clear of Third Sacker in third. Favored Winter Whiskey finished a nonthreatening 10th.

"He did it pretty easily," said Husbands. "When he picked up the bit going into the turn, I had about six horses in front of me, so I made one sweeping run with him. When I asked him, he responded well."