Woodbine: Spring in the Air holds on to win Fury Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Spring in the Air, Canada’s reigning champion 2-year-old filly, held off a charging Smartyfly to take the $150,000 Fury Stakes under Patrick Husbands at Woodbine Saturday.

Spring in the Air tracked the leaders on the outside through slow fractions in the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies. She hit the front nearing the eighth pole, before holding sway to prevail by a half-length in 1:23.51.

Smartyfly finished two lengths clear of the weakening pacemaker, Nadurra. Sarah Her Highness rallied for fourth in a field reduced to eight with the scratches of Original Script and Bold Birdie.

Spring in the Air ($3.80) banked $90,000 for John Oxley and Mark Casse, Canada’s top owner and trainer, respectively, in 2012.

“She was traveling so nice and easy going down [the backstretch],” said Husbands. “At the top of the lane, and she was still waiting, and I had to really get into her. She wasn’t giving up, and she galloped out good. She’s back to herself.”