Filo Di Arianna scores in the Highlander (Michael Burns)
Woodbine Communications
TORONTO— The well-accomplished eight-year-old gelding Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) added another graded stakes victory to his name with a win in Saturday’s Grade 2 bet365 Highlander Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack.
Contested at six-furlongs over the E.P. Taylor Turf, the Mark Casse trainee Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) and jockey Kazushi Kimura broke well to go forward and sat just off leader Step Forward, who carried the lead through the turn and into the stretch.
The top pair kept separation on their rivals for a long portion of the E.P. Taylor stretch. Step Forward showed plenty of grit to try and go the distance, but couldn’t hold off the powerful Filo Di Arianna (BRZ), who overtook in the final sixteenth to win by 2 ¾ lengths.
Witty, who got away fifth, finished strong to edge Step Forward for second, while the 8/5 favourite Oceaninc finished fourth.
The fractions were :23.72, :46.40, :57.65 and the final time was 1:09.75.
A Sovereign Award winner, Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) had last run in the Grade 1 Jaipur at Saratoga on June 8 (finishing seventh) prior to Saturday’s race. The eight-year-old is now four for four in races on the E.P. Taylor Turf and five for six overall at Woodbine.
“He’s been fighting with really nice horses,” said Kimura post-race. “Today I was more comfortable and confident. He’s a quality horse.”
Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) is now a three-time graded stakes winner for owners Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch. His career numbers now read 16-8-3-1 and over $550,000 earned.
A $2 win ticket on Filo Di Arianna (BRZ) returned $6.30.
