Implicated captures the Nassau (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications
TORONTO— Implicated went the extra mile in the one-mile $175,000 Nassau (G2T) Stakes for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, Saturday afternoon at Woodbine.
Making her first appearance in Canada, Implicated, under Declan Cannon, sat mid-pack as multiple rivals scuffled over the early lead, with Safeen emerging on the front end, followed by the trio of Full Count Felicia, Dana’s Beauty and Fast as Flight, who broke outwardly from the outside post 10.
Full Count Felicia then took command and was a head in front of Safeen through an opening panel in :24.38 over an E.P. Taylor turf listed as good. The pacesetter held a half-length advantage over Dana’s Beauty through a half in :47.13, while Implicated remained unhurried in fifth.
Implicated waited for her cue from Cannon, who had the 4-year-old daughter of Connect-Wysteria in third and primed to take aim at the leaders around the turn for home.
The roan filly, trained by Brendan Walsh, struck front in early stretch, and braced for the challenge of Fev Rover (IRE), Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year, who looked to reel in her rival, as did multiple graded stakes winner Millie Girl.
At the wire, Implicated was 1 ¾ lengths clear of Fev Rover, who fended off Millie Girl by a head.
The final time was 1:35.50.
“Everything panned out great today,” said Cannon. “Brendan and his team did a fabulous job. Had this race picked out for a while, and it all worked out today.
“With this being such a long stretch, I just wanted to ride her with confidence, like she was the best horse in the race. And when I really asked her at the eighth pole, just took her a little while to get organized, but I think that was just because of the ground as well, and I didn’t want to rush her and get her unorganized, and she came home strong.”
Owned by Bradley Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding, LLC, Cambron Equine, LLC and Laura Leigh Stable, Implicated is now 5-0-1 from nine starts.
Her biggest win prior to the Nassau came in last November in the Pebbles Stakes (G3T) at Aqueduct.
Implicated, who won at Churchill Downs on May 12 prior to today’s score, paid $13.30 for the win.
Bred in Kentucky by Somewhere Stables KY, LLC, Implicated was a $125,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.
