Woodbine: Rootham Triple E’s wins Star Shoot Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Outsider Rootham Triple E’s gamely turned back the favored Leinan in the stretch to notch her first stakes win in Saturday’s $168,000 Star Shoot, the opening-day feature at Woodbine.

Just Got In set fast, wind-aided splits of 21.80 and 44.48 seconds, while Rootham Triple E’s stalked in third heading into the turn. Rootham Triple E’s made a two-wide bid for the lead inside the quarter pole and went on to prevail by a half-length in 1:10.87.

Leinan finished 2 1/4 lengths clear of Fun in D’ Sun, who outran the Fair Grounds shipper Finding More for third in the six-horse field of 3-year-old fillies.

Justin Stein rode the winner for trainer Sam DiPasquale.

“She’s a pretty serious horse, attitude-wise,” Stein said. “She trains hard in the morning. Every time I’ve been on her, she has her mind on her business. When [Leinan] came to her, she wasn’t letting her go by.”

Rootham Triple E’s returned $20.10 and earned $108,000 for owners Murray Stroud, Tom Rootham and Gordon Clarke.