Bullet and jockey Patrick Husbands winning the My Dear. (Michael Burns Photo)
Pleasure’s Gold took the $100,000 Ballade
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
TORONTO, July 13, 2024 – Bullet, under Patrick Husbands, took the lead in early stretch and then powered away from her pursuers effortlessly to take the $125,000 My Dear Stakes, Saturday at Woodbine.
The quartet of Lithica, Obliging, Bound to Be True, and Carlisle Bay scrapped over the early lead, as Bullet, sent off as the 1-2 choice, watched the foursome fracas from in fifth ahead of an opening quarter reached in :22.82.
Carlisle Bay had established a two-length lead at the three-eighths mark, but Bullet fired soon after and glided up to engage her rival into the turn for home.
A confident Husbands powered the daughter of War Front-Marlinspike to the front in early stretch and the pair held a head advantage at the stretch call.
From there, it was simply a question of how much the winning margin would be.
That answer came in the form of a 4 ¼-length score over Soupergirl. Carlisle Bay was a further length back in third and Ambitious Lass rallied to finish fourth.
The final time was 1:04.85.
Husbands, who has ridden several standout rookies throughout his decorated career, had high praise for the emerging star.
“She’s one of them, trust me she’s one of them,” said Husbands, when asked where Bullet ranks on the list of the best two-year-old fillies he’s ridden. “You could do anything with this filly. You can go to the lead, you can do anything. She’s all class – you can do anything with her.”
Trained by dual Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse and owned by D.J. Stable, LLC, Bullet arrived at the My Dear off a dazzling debut in the Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes (Black Type) at Gulfstream on May 11.
The grey filly was a $425,000 purchase (Hip #615) at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD. in Kentucky, Bullet paid $3.10 for the win.
In other Saturday stakes action, Pleasure’s Gold took the $100,000 Ballade, an Ontario-sired event for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up.
Under Rafael Hernandez, the hard-knocking 5-year-old daughter of Souper Speedy-Good as Gold sat off the early pacesetters before hustling home to record a three-quarter length score in the six-furlong main track race.
Talk to Ya Later finished second, Lantana Lady was third and Veri Gizmo was fourth.
The final time was 1:10.31.
Bred and owned by Elizabeth and Gordon Lickrish, the dark bay filly, trained by Tino Attard, is now 6-3-3 from 18 starts.
Pleasure’s Gold, who finished ninth in last year’s Ballade, paid $10.90 for the win.
