SATURDAY P.M. UPDATE

‘SEALY’ ED AND DELIVERED
Meteor fizzles behind Hard Spun

Continuing a Canadian-bred theme around the big tracks today, Eugene Melnyk’s homebred 3-year-old filly SEALY HILL had a beautiful trip en route to half-length win in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Turfway.
It was the 3rd win in 4 starts for the Point Given – Boston Twist, Boston Harbour filly who is trained by Mark casse.
Sealy Hill had to wait out a lengthy delay in the start of the 1 mile race as two fillies broke through the gate beforehand. She was unloaded from the gate, walked and then broke sharply under jockey Patrick Husbands. Husbands sat lightly on the filly in 5th, about 4 lengths off the pace and then let her advance 3 wide into the last turn, She had a long lead into the stretch and then held off a fast closing Panty Raid, trained by Todd Pletcher. Panty Raid was one of the fillies who broke through the gate.
Sealy Hill now zooms up to the top of the contenders list for the Labatt Woodbine Oaks in June.

The news of the day was certainly the sizzling win by HARD SPUN, the impeccably bred Danzig colt who put a new spin on the Kentucky Derby with his fast score in the 1 1/8 mile Lane’s End- Grade 2.
Tracking a hot pace while 3 wide and under a hard hold, Hard Spun took off and won easily over closers Sedgefield (Smart Strike) and Joe Got Even (Stephen Got Even).
Winterbook favourite for the Queen’s Plate TWILIGHT METEOR saved ground in 7th down the backstretch, had the rail on the last turn but switched leads early and faded to 6th. Mark Casse trainee Approval Rating, a Kentucky-bred, also had no late kick.

In the RUSHAWAY Stakes ($100,000, 1 1/16), Canadian-bred REATA’S ROCKET was third but weakening in the late stages after moving 3 wide to bid for the lead inside the ¼ pole. The Cape Canaveral fellow may not be too happy with the longer distances but has really done well in tough stakes this winter. He was bred by Bob Anderson and Rod Ferguson.
Much better effort by SKIP CODE, one of Canada’s top 2-year-olds last year. The Kentucky bred was an even 4th and appeared to finish well under Husbands.
The winner of the Rushaway was the chestnut El Corredor colt DOMINICAN who had one of the nicest strides to be seen this year as he reached out and strolled to the win from just off the pace.

HAIL MARY

The Grade 2 Distaff Breeders’ Cup didn’t start out well for MARYFIELD today at Aqueduct but with long strides, a lot of guts and a hot pace in front of her, the Canadian-bred daughter of Elusive Quality swept to victory over a similarly brace CANDY BOX, the other Canadian-bred in the field.
Maryfield, bred by Ontario’s Mike Carroll and John Harvey Jr., had a sluggish start from her rail post in the 6 furlong dash but that was just fine as Candy Box hooked up in a tough pace duel.
Candy Box fought on bravely as race favourite Oprah Winney started to rally and looked like she was going to hold on until Maryfield swept by to win her first graded stakes in 1:09 3/5.
Maryfield is owned by Perry, Mestrandrea and Gorman and trained by Doug O’Neil. She was claimed from Jim and Alice Sapara for $50,000 in January of 2006 at Santa Anita. She was originally an $80,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase.
The mare’s dam is Sly Maid by Desert Wine. It was the 7th win in 24 starts for Maryfield who boosted her earnings to over $550,000.