Windward Islands popping a slight upset to defeat Fifty Proof in the Nijinsky Stakes at Woodbine
Trained by Mark Frostad for owner Sam-Son Farms, the seven-year-old gelding, Windward Islands, showed at Woodbine that he still has what it takes to win graded stakes, as he successfully defended his title in the highly depleted Grade 2 $329,793 Nijinsky
Stakes at Woodbine turf on 24 July,
Windward Islands is the son of Cozzene out of Cruisie by Assert, managed to do a double on Nijinsky Stakes which he won back in 2010 on 24 May under the same jockey, Chantal Sutherland, who guided him to victory in this year’s edition.
The son of Cozzene recorded his first win in the 2011 season, running his first race of the year in the Grade 2 Elkhorn on 29 April at Keeneland.
The gelding finished 3rd under strong urging from jockey R Napravnik in the 1 ½ mile event.
After a finish on the cards at Keeneland, the next goal set by his connections was the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park on 26 June.
Windward Islands has a tough competition to endure in the Manhattan Handicap, as the Grade 1 race reeled in multiple stakes winners like Mission Approved and Gio Ponti.
With the distance gone up to 1 ¼ miles, Windward Islands had a tough time finding his feet on the Belmont Turf and finished seventh.
Chantal Sutherland was called upon yet again to ride the gelding in the Grade 3 Singspiel in the spring/summer meet at Woodbine turf.
He again showed a lot of passion and spirit under Sutherland, who drove the colt through the mid stretch while tracking leaders.
Windward Islands couldn’t keep up with the pace set up by Musketier and Grassy, who kept him at bay to finish a respectable third.
This time around it was jockey Emma – Jayne Wilson who managed to pull off a slight upset by defeating the 9 to 10 choice Fifty Proof by three quarters of a length.
The race started off with Windward Islands bumping into Fifty Proof, but Fifty Proof found his footings soon enough to challenge Hailstone and Silver Rock for the lead.
Assuming leaders position shortly, Fifty Proof advanced forward with speed. Emma Jayne urged Windward Islands to get into top gear, as the pair soon got behind Fifty Proof in second place.
Past the eighth pole, Windward Islands showed a lot of grit as he drew even to Fifty Proof and compiled a fast set of strides to take over Fifty proof and of course a strong whip from Wilson to carry the gelding ahead in the final stages to reach the wire
first.
The seven-year-old winner carried 121 pounds, earning up to $189,900 for this race, and with a career earnings of $879,293.
Out of 23 starts, Windward Island won 6, 4 times runner up and 4 times finished third.
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