Owen’s Tour Guide and jockey Jose Campos winning the Zadracarta Stakes. (Michael Burns Photo)
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
TORONTO, Ont. – Owen’s Tour Guide, under Jose Campos, was full of run late to take Saturday’s $100,000 Zadracarta Stakes, at Woodbine.
The Zadracarta, a five-furlong inner turf event for Ontario-bred fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, went postward with seven hopefuls, including 7-1 Owen’s Tour Guide, who was supplemented to the race by trainer Willie Armata and owner Tequesta Racing Inc.
It was a multi-horse tussle for the lead with Indian Music, Olivia Rose, Cara Cara, and Dancing Duchess matching strides at the outset.
Indian Music, to the inside, emerged on top and held a slim advantage over Olivia Rose and Cara Cara through an opening quarter in :21.89.
Olivia Rose then forged to the front, shadowed intently by Cara Cara, while Campos, hugging the rail turning for home, swung Owen’s Tour Guide to the outside in upper stretch and set his sights on the lead pair.
With less than 75 yards to go, Owen’s Tour Guide kicked into gear and was able to get by her determined rivals to notch a one-length score. Olivia Rose took second, a half-length ahead of Cara Cara. Dancing Duchess was fourth.
The final time was :57.25 over good going.
It was the first stakes success for the 6-year-old daughter of Tourist-My Christini, who was sixth in the 2022 edition of the Zadracarta.
“The plan was to come from behind the pace,” said Campos, who has held a hot hand in recent weeks. “My filly broke slow. In the turn, the rail got open, so I had to go. When I moved, my filly responded so well.”
Armata was happy with how the decision to contest the Zadracarta panned out.
“Perfect ride today. Campos came by in the morning. I called (jockey agent) Gerry Olguin about 10 times. I said, ‘Tell Campos not to forget me.’ But when he rode her before, we used to just track, track, and sometimes the trip would work out.
“Today, me and him decided, at 10 o’clock, that we were going to sit off it and hope for the best.”
Owen’s Tour Guide is now 7-3-6 from 37 career starts. Bred by Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, the dark bay launched her career with two straight scores, including a nose victory, at 36-1, in her career bow, a 6 ½-furlong run over the Woodbine main track on November 20, 2020.
She returned $16.70.
