Derby Kitten’s patient run proved too much for the Ontario Derby cast at Woodbine, as the colt swept past to claim the Ontario Derby
The 3-year-old colt, Derby Kitten, posted his second win over the synthetic surface, as he downed the field of 8 three-year-old runners in the $154,029 Ontario Derby at Woodbine on 25 September.
Over the 1 1/8 mile Poly Track distance, the Michael Maker trained Derby Kitten came off the pace, under jockey Mike Smith, from sixth place to win the race with a winning time of 1 minute and 50.32 seconds.
The son of Kitten’s Joy, out of Blush by Menifee, got settled in seven in the field of 8, and responded to his jockey, all the way passing down opponents at will in his best run, and finally came four wide on the final turn.
Rivals like the Queen’s Plate runner-up, Hippolytus, and Moonshine Mullin were no match for the dazzling run of Derby Kitten, who was sitting no more than six lengths behind the leader to begin with.
The 68 to 1 Silverleo, assumed his pace, setting duties covering the quarter mile in 24.90 seconds and then passing the half mile mark in 49.45 seconds.
The Chad Brown trained Bowman’s Causeway always looked in contention as he kept himself close to Moonshine Mullin, who was running in just behind Silverleo in second place position.
Jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva, riding Bowman’s Causeway, was given his cue, as he assumed the lead from Silverleo going into the top stretch.
Bowman’s Causeway got attacked for the lead from left and right, as Moonshine Mullin got his engine going from the rail and Hippolytus rallied from the outside.
In the final 70 yards, the protagonists were no match for the late surge from Derby Kitten, and could not hold off her fast closing run.
Mike Smith smartly looked for daylight, and when he found the room to steer his colt from traffic, he did not hesitate and maintained the same blistering pace to go past opponents and finished on a high with a super run from Derby Kitten.
From 14 lifetime starts, Derby Kitten went on to register his third win, while at the same time increasing his earnings to $304,749 after receiving the winners’ share of $87,516.
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