Woodsmoke wins depsite being rank

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Woodsmoke ($28.70) led most of the way to register an upset victory in Sunday's $151,200 Fury Stakes at Woodbine.

Not Just a Rumor, the even-money favorite, broke on top in the seven-furlong sprint, before Woodsmoke took control through fractions of 22.79 and 45.06 seconds. High Mist and Mullins Beach both entered contention in the final furlong, but Woodsmoke dug in and prevailed by 2 1/4 lengths, in a time of 1:22.67.

High Mist outran Mullins Beach for second, and Not Just a Rumor faded to fourth in the eight-horse field of Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Woodsmoke was rank in the early going under jockey Tyler Pizarro.

"She didn't want to be around anybody," said Pizarro. "She wanted to go to the lead, and that's it. I tried to get her to relax. I took her off the rail, and when we hit the three-eighths pole, she dropped the bit until the quarter pole. As soon as I asked her, she kicked on again."

Woodsmoke, now unbeaten in two starts, earned $90,000 for owner Gustav Schickedanz and trainer Mike Keogh.