Solo Album prevails in the Trillium (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications
TORONTO— In other Saturday stakes action at Woodbine, Solo Album took the early lead and held on gamely to hit the top of the chart in the $135,000 Trillium Stakes Presented by Don Julio (G3).
Ridden by Sahin Civaci, who one race earlier teamed with Mark Casse trainee My Boy Prince to win the Plate Trial Stakes, the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin-Summer Solo grabbed a slim lead over U.S. invader Ocean Club into the first turn of the 1 1/16-mile main track event for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up.
Solo Album was a head clear of Ocean Club through a quarter in :24.65, followed by Batucada and Ro Town.
The chestnut filly maintained her head advantage on Ocean Club after a half in :49.20, while the trio of Batucada, Ro Town and Fashionably Fab kept close tabs on the pacesetters.
Solo Album rounded the turn with pressure to the outside from Fashionably Fab, who had burst through a seam a few strides before the field straightened for home, and a game Ocean Club.
A length on top at the stretch call, Solo Album fended off a late charge from fellow Casse trainee Forever Dixie, who was supplemented to the race, by a head. Multiple stakes winner Fashionably Fab, a winner of five straight heading into the Trillium, was a neck back in third. Ocean Club was fourth. Five Towns (GB) was scratched.
The final time was 1:43.90.
“I know she could come off the pace and looking at it, no one was really going, and the pace was quite easy, and the rail was open, so I went,” said Civaci. “I felt them coming so I was riding hard, and she held on.”
Owned by Gary Barber, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Steven Rocco, Solo Album, bred in Kentucky by Payson Stud Inc., is now 3-5-1 from 14 starts.
She was a $535,000 purchase at the 2021 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
Solo Album, who took last year’s Grade 3 Selene Stakes, paid $6.60 for the win.
