Souper Supreme and jockey Patrick Husbands sail to victory. (Michael Burns Photo)
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
TORONTO, Ont. – Souper Supreme, under Patrick Husbands, took the lead early and was resolute throughout en route to victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Victorian Queen Stakes, for 2-year-old Ontario-sired fillies, at Woodbine.
Trained by Mark Casse for owners Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, the daughter of Souper Speedy-Platinum Steel arrived at the seven-furlong turf engagement on a two-race win streak, which included a 4 ¼-length triumph in the Muskoka Stakes, at 6 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine main, on August 25.
It was an equally impressive outing in the Victorian Queen.
Souper Supreme glided to the front soon after the gates opened, followed by Ella It Is, I Love To Win (supplemented to the race), and Serious Green through an opening quarter in :23.39.
The bay filly was 3 ½ lengths on top after a half reached in :46.76, as Ella It Is looked to engage as the field headed into the turn for home.
Husbands didn’t move a muscle as Souper Supreme powered away from the field with ease, going on to post an easy 2 ¼-length score in a time of 1:22.16 over firm going on the E.P. Taylor turf. Ella It Is was second, two lengths ahead of Skylight Caper. I Love To Win was fourth.
“She showed you in the morning, even though she had never run on the turf, that she is legit,” said Husbands, whose weekend also included a victory in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Rogers Woodbine Mile, with Win for the Money, also trained by Casse.
“Even Mark Casse could have ridden her,” quipped the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of jockey. “She is all class. She loves to run.”
Langlois was thrilled to see any question marks around his filly’s ability to take to turf emphatically answered.
“I was obviously nervous because she hadn’t done it, but I was more hoping that she could do it because I know it opens up so many doors. As we are learning, if she can run on turf as well, there are lots of opportunities for her.”
Bred by Ericka Rusnak, Souper Supreme, now 3-1-0 from 4 starts, was a $100,000 purchase at the 2023 CTHS Ontario Premier Yearling Sale.
She paid $3.30.
