Woodbine Mohawk Park: Century Farroh defeats big names in Simcoe

Century Farroh toppled the likes of Pepsi North America Cup champion Captain Crunch and Meadowlands Pace victor Best In Show in taking a 1:49 3/5 decision in the C$171,503 Simcoe Stakes for sophomore pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

With Sylvain Filion at the controls, Century Farroh was in the pocket behind Best In Show (Tim Tetrick) at the 26 second opening quarter, and that would turn into a three-hole as Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron) rushed from fourth to the lead near the 54 1/5 half-mile station.

Captain Crunch maintained the lead around the last turn, at the 1:22 2/5 three-quarters, and into the lane, but he gave way in the last eighth, with Century Farroh closing best up the inside to win by a length and a quarter. Best In Show wound up second, with Captain Crunch fading to third. Stag Party (David Miller) and Bronx Seelster (Jody Jamieson) completed the top five.

"I knew Timmy's horse was going to drift out because he did last week, and I was kind of hoping Scotty's would too. It eventually worked out. We got lucky," said Filion. "Mine was full of pace, and they were kind of asking their horses, and they weren't responding that well. He's a very, very good colt."

Dr. Ian Moore trains Century Farroh, a Mach Three colt, for owner Ratchford Stable NS. Century Farroh now has a record of 14-2-2 from 22 attempts, and he has now pocketed C$596,384. He was sent off at 7-1 and paid $16.40 to win.

"He ended up the season very well last year, and it just goes to show you sometimes that a lot of the 2-year-olds get raced very hard, and they don't come back as 3-year-olds," Dr. Moore stated. "This guy never beat 1:53 last year. I think he won the final of the (Ontario Sires Stakes) Grassroots in 1:53 flat, so he saved himself for this year, I guess. We're very proud of him, very pleased, and Sylvain Filion, he's one of the best around here, that's for sure. I was cursing him when he didn't move him on that turn, that's for sure. You don't want to know what I said, but I'm glad the rail opened up for him because he did have lots of horse.

"He trained well back. We gave him a week off, and he'll get another week now probably. I'll be talking to his owner, Dave Ratchford, to see if there's any chance we might be able to supplement him to the Breeders Crown or something down the road here. He's very lightly staked. He just has the last (Ontario Sires Stakes) Gold and the Super Final, I guess."