Woodbine notes: Grand Arch coming into his own

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Sunday’s Grade 2, $202,000 King Edward was the first stakes tally for Grand Arch, who looks to be coming into his own this year at age 5. Grand Arch saved ground on the turn under David Moran before splitting horses in the stretch, and then collared the leading favorite Excaper in the final strides of the one-mile turf event.

Trainer Brian Lynch said Grand Arch will stick to local turf stakes this summer, with the next stop being the Grade 2 Nijinsky, a 1 1/8-mile event on July 19.

“He’s been knocking on the door to win a good race,” Lynch said. “He settled lovely, and got the pace in front of him. David gave him a good, confident ride. Last year, he was headstrong. He wanted to be up there on the engine. He was headstrong. This year, you can rate him and put him where you want him. When you ask him, he’s there.”

◗ Trainer Bob Tiller runs two contenders in Wednesday’s featured second race, Refreshingmemories and Maythefourthbwithu. Five other fillies and mares were entered in the five-furlong dash, which combines Ontario-sired non-winners-of-three allowance types with $40,000 non-winners-of-three claimers.