March 1, 2016
The competition assembled Saturday for the Grade III Canadian Turf was so evenly matched that the favourite went forward at 5-1 and the longest shot went forward at 13-1 and as expected, only a length separated the first five runners and a dead-heat came for the win from both BC Mile winner Sir Tom and rising star Stormy Passing, who was piped on the line after securing a clear lead late in the lane. Both older runners earned a solid 98-speed rating for their efforts with the former now well clear of $2,500.000 in earnings while the latter, stepping up after facing much easier in the middle of 2015, now has two straight co-wins to his credit and can look to step up further with confidence on his side.
While the inside runners were hoping to save some ground early, it was the outside speed who bolted from the gate in the Canadian Turf as Louisiana Flash (7.55) and Pink Star (5.15) took the lead before being joined by Hulk Hogan (13.20) to their inside. As the field moved into the first turn and through the opening split of 22.84, the leaders were able to get down to the rail with Stormy Passing (5.60) coming up inside for third spot but Hulk Hogan started to back away after being used early and that left Louisiana Flash to take up the running. Pink Star was resurgent as the field marched to the half-mile in 45.62 but a wall of three behind him looked poised to pounce with many of the favourites still awaiting their best chances. Into the far turn, Stormy Passing was looking for a way between horses as tiring frontrunners blocked his best lane and as he got out into the three-wide path, Sir Tom (6.25) started to close along the rail with Hold The Mach (7.70) trying to rally wide. Six-furlongs in 1:09.10 saw the first seven runners within three-lengths of each other and as Stormy Passing rocketed to command, the BC Mile winner angled inside for his run while Pink Star came very wide. The former MNR allowance winner looked clear with a 1/16th to run but in the last desperate strides, Sir Tom came running inside to dead-heat for the victory, with both entrants clear by a half-length from Hold The Mach with Moonlight Dreams (8.45) a charging fourth between rivals. Silver Bullet (*5.00) came widest of all but was too far back early to make a dent with Pink Star, Louisiana Flash and Hulk Hogan all fading back in the lane, leaving Lucky Spaniard (5.50) last but less than four-lengths from first in the evenly matched field of nine.
The two winners of the Grade III Canadian Turf could not have come from more different backgrounds and while Sir Tom was clearly the class of the field with more than $2500.000 in earnings, Stormy Passing was the real surprise with a determined run that saw him win his fifth start in his last six attempts. Now talk switches to races like the Muniz Memorial Handicap at FG or even the Kilroe or Shoemaker Mile at SA with sights firmly set on the BC Mile, with a potential repeat for one of the winners.
Congratulations goes out to owners Brave and C.R. Racing for their older runners Sir Tom and Stormy Passing, joint winners of the Grade III Canadian Turf at GP!
Prediction Sir Tom / Silver Bullet / Hold The Mach
Winners Sir Tom
Five-year-old gray horse
Sir Bart-Kahlua (Auto-Generated)
Stormy Passing
Six-year-old bay gelding
Stormy-Passing Atonement (Paseo)
Owners Brave & C.R. Racing
Time 22.84, 45.62, 1:09.10, 1:33.27
Overall
Sir Tom (DH) 6.25 midpack early, angled inside, just up
Stormy Passing (DH) 5.60 found room late, held on for joint victory
Hold The Mach 7.70 wide rally from behind rivals
Moonlight Dreams 8.45 too far back early
Silver Bullet *5.00 wide run into lane
Pink Star 5.15 pressed, faded
Louisiana Flash 7.55 no late momentum
Hulk Hogan 13.20 brief speed, tired
Lucky Spaniard 5.50 no threat
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
