by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications
Toronto, ON — After capturing his Valedictory Stakes elimination last week, Itrustyou and Brett Miller clicked again in the C$60,000 final on Monday afternoon (Dec. 26) at Woodbine.
Itrustyou and Brett Miller were 1:51.1 winners in the Valedictory Stakes final.
It was a cavalry charge heading into the first turn as Curator (Billy Davis. Jr), Thebestofjoel (Keith Oliver), Itrustyou and Weigh The Odds (Chris Christoforou) were all looking for position. Thebestofjoel would strike the front to lead his nine rivals past the opening panel in a quick :26.2. Itrustyou and Curator were still on the outside with Weigh The Odds settling away in fourth from the rail position.
Heading towards the half, Itrustyou would take over command, but Curator was still on the outside past the half in :54.4. As the sophomore pacers headed around the final turn, the post time favorite and other elimination winner, Audreys Dream (Jody Jamieson), was well positioned second-over as Itrustyou marched past three-quarters in 1:23.2.
Down the stretch, Itrustyou was still in command, but Curator was still stalking on the outside with Audreys Dream also advancing from in third. Miller asked Itrustyou for more pace and the son of Third Straight responded to score the victory by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:51.1. Audreys Dream came on for second, over Curator.
“I didn’t want to be first-up against Curator,” Miller said following the win. “I know that horse is really good on the front, so I decided to beat him to the lead.”
Miller felt confident in that decision, especially turning for home.
“It felt like I hadn’t even asked him yet,” he said. “He was pacing all on his own and I knew I had lots of horse left. It’s a great feeling to get the job done here today.”
Burke Racing Stable owns Itrustyou who captured his tenth career victory as his earnings climbed to C$114,875 for trainer David Menary. Itrustyou paid $5.90 to win as the second choice.
Windsun Soho prevails as favorite in Niagara final
Driver Phil Hudon engineered the winning trip as he guided race favorite Windsun Soho to an off-the-pace victory in the C$60,000 Niagara Stakes final for sophomore filly pacers at Woodbine on Monday afternoon.
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Windsun Soho scored for Phil Hudon in the Niagara Stakes final.
Hudon was in no rush in the early going as D Gs Tinkerbell (Luc Ouellette) and Seascape Hanover (Mario Baillargeon) were both looking for top honors. D Gs Tinkerbell would lead past the first station in a hot :26.2, but Seascape Hanover quickly claimed the lead. Seascape Hanover would lead past the midway point in :54.2 as the backfield began to angle to the outside.
Elimination winner Markella (Chris Christoforou) began the first-over attack with other elimination winner Windsun Soho on his back. As Seascape Hanover passed three-quarters in 1:23.4, she began to tire as the backfield was closing in. Markella overtook command, but Hudon showed Windsun Soho open racetrack and the daughter of Cam’s Card Shark responded, using a :28.3 final quarter to seal the victory in 1:53.1. D Gs Tinkerbell came on for second with Tu Sei Bella (Brett Miller) completing the triactor.
“She’s wicked fast for a piece of a mile,” Hudon said following the win. “She usually races from off-the-pace, because she likes to track horses down and today was no different. I was pretty confident in her at the top of the stretch, but you never know. The :54.2 half was certainly in our favor.”
Murray Brethour trains and co-owns the five time winner along with breeder Windsun Farm. The brown filly lifted her career earnings to C$89,460. She paid $4.90 for the win.