September 15, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Show Me the Money
Usain Bolt was born to be a sprinter. Prince Fielder was born to be a baseball player. Win for the Money was born to be a champion racehorse.
The 5-year-old gelding joined elite company after capturing the $1 million Woodbine Mile (G1T) by 1 ½ lengths on Saturday afternoon at 13-1.
Unlike his fellow aptly named athletes, Win for the Money wasn’t necessarily touted as the next big thing as a youngster.
That underdog label followed the Mark Casse charge into the Mile, and all it did was serve as added motivation for the board’s third-longest shot.
Win for the Money paid a healthy $29.30 for his first career stakes score.
A One-Horse Race
It’s been a dream run for Full Count Felicia, who secured her second graded stakes trophy in 35 days in supreme fashion.
The well-travelled Kevin Attard trainee silenced the competition in the $750,000 E.P. Taylor (G1T) with a 3 ½-length, gate-to-wire triumph.
The final measure doesn’t begin to describe the full-on shellacking that occurred in race 7 on Saturday at Woodbine.
Full Count Felicia, at 7-1, toyed with the smaller field of five throughout the 1 ¼-mile affair, reaching a 19-length lead by the mile-marker.
The 5-year-old mare was smartly rationed by Kazushi Kimura, and the pair coasted to a well-deserved victory.
For her remarkable effort, Full Count Felicia paid a cool $17.60.
My Way
Jonathan’s Way very much had his way in the $300,000 Iroquois (G3) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
The 6-5 closing line choice delivered on his lofty billing with a front-leading 2 ¾-length clearance over 3-1 foe Owen Almighty.
It’s been a picture-perfect start for the 2-year-old colt, who not only remained perfect through two starts but also earned ‘graded stakes winner’ status along the way.
The stunning Iroquois showing has Jonathan’s Way on the right path as he begins to push towards a potential berth in next year’s Kentucky Derby (G1).
Short Memory
It wasn’t meant to be in Beautiful Love’s (IRE) North American debut on Aug. 17, but the 3-year-old filly showed she’s a quick learner in the Jockey Club Oaks (G3T) on Saturday at Aqueduct.
Not one month after a difficult sixth in the Lake Placid (G2T), the Dylan Davis mount was out to prove it was nothing more than a fluke.
And that she did with a brilliant come-from-behind effort in the 1 3/8-mile JC Oaks.
With the win, Beautiful Love is now 3-2-1 through eight career starts for over $266,000 in earnings.
The Charlie Appleby trainee paid $9.20 for her latest tally.
Perfectly Orchestrated
Musical Mischief hit all the right notes in an improbable 3 ¼-length Locust Grove (G2) triumph on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Sent off at 16-1 in the $400,000 affair, Musical Mischief and rider Edgar Morales hovered around the top half of the 8-horse field before drifting out wide for a valiant final kick.
The pair’s impeccable patience paid off as they faced minimal resistance en route to their first graded conquest as partners.
For the win, Musical Mischief paid $35.64. But if that wasn’t good enough, a $2 1-6 exacta with Corningstone, who finished second at 43-1, paid $687.42.