Canadiansweetheart and jockey Leo Salles surprise in the Sweet Briar Too (Michael Burns)
By Chris Lomon – Woodbine Communications
TORONTO— Canadiansweetheart, at 36-1, rallied impressively to take Saturday’s $125,000 Sweet Briar Too Stakes at Woodbine.
The trio of trainer Renico Lafond, jockey Leo Salles and owner Kris Manohar will team up with longshot Morstachy’s in Sunday’s running of the 164th King’s Plate.
On Saturday afternoon, they combined for a sweet surprise score with outsider Canadiansweetheart.
Forest Drift broke alertly and eventually struck front with 3-5 choice Clitheroe (GB) and Run for the Hills pressing the leader, as Salles and Canadiansweetheart sat fourth through an opening quarter in :22.37.
Just ahead of the half (reached in :44.43), Forest Drift was overtaken by Clitheroe (GB) and Run for the Hills, as Salles positioned Canadiansweetheart for her best run. Midway down the lane, the longest shot on the board was quickly gaining ground on the frontrunners.
Canadiansweetheart wore down her rivals and went on to record a three-quarter length triumph in a time of 1:08.68 over “firm” going. A fast-closing 13-1 Talk to Ya Later rallied for second, 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Clitheroe (GB). Hard Edge, who had to check along the backstretch, finished fourth.
“Everything worked out good,” said Salles. “I breezed her and she came ready to race. We got a perfect trip. I came outside and when I asked her, she had a good turn of foot.”
A 3-year-old daughter of Ransom The Moon-Terri’s Pass, the dark bay is now 5-0-1 from seven starts on the year and 8-0-2 from 17 career races.
It was also the first stakes victory for Canadiansweetheart, whose only other stakes appearance came in the Fury Stakes in June when she was seventh.
Lafond, whose other stakes victory came in the 2012 Ruling Angel with Silent Serenity, praised his filly’s huge performance.
“When I first got her, she was very, very hyper,” said Lafond, who claimed Canadiansweetheart this spring for $25,000. “I had to get to relax a little bit. I accomplished that part, getting her to learn to relax and chill, and I thought she would go long, but she gets tired. I will try it later on, but not now. I’m quite happy. We did it. Here we are. I hope tomorrow is the same result.”
Added Manohar, “She always gives us 100 percent when she runs. She has such a big heart. She’s just like us. We’re underdogs, we’re young and we’re trying. Today, she proved the underdog can always win too.”
On Sunday, the connections will look to duplicate that success in the King’s Plate with Morstachy’s.
“We are the same team and I think we are going into the race with a little luck,” offered Salles.
Canadiansweetheart paid $75.70.
