Cairo Caper gets the win in the Soaring Free (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications
TORONTO – Cairo Caper, under Jose Campos, worked overtime to get the win in Friday’s $150,000 bet365 Soaring Free Stakes, at Woodbine.
Mensa and stablemate Dream On set the early tone in the 6 ½-furlong race for 2-year-olds, while Campos had settled Cairo Caper in fifth through an opening quarter in :22.90 over a good E.P. Taylor turf.
Dream On was a head on top of Mensa after a half in :45.17, while Cairo Caper, in his first stakes test for trainer Nathan Squires, was guided three-wide coming off the turn for home.
Dream On was still in front midway down the lane but was joined to his outside by a determined Cairo Caper. After a spirited tussle, Cairo Caper wrested the lead away from his rival to secure a three-quarter length win in a time of 1:16.25. Coolcollected was third and Ylivoimainen finished fourth. Shadow Factor and Homie were both scratched.
“To be honest, we work every morning, so I knew that he was going to run huge,” said Campos. “I know that horse is going to give me everything he has to the end and we won the race.”
Owned by William B. Thompson, Jr., the gelded son of Cairo Prince-Summer Clothes made it two straight trips to the winner’s circle after a maiden-breaking victory at six furlongs on the E.P. Taylor on July 4. He was third in his May debut, a five-panel sprint over the Woodbine all-weather track.
“I thought we had a good chance going in,” said Squires. “His maiden race was good, he trained well, he looks stronger. Going into this race, I was a bit confident.”
Cairo Caper was a $50,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
Bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones, he returned $12.40 for the win.
