Canadian champion Johnny Bear upset the Northern Dancer for the second straight year in a row. Overlooked at 16-1 this time compared to his 9-1 odds last term, the chestnut bided his time in sixth as favored MG1SW Hawkbill (Kitten's Joy) clicked off opening splits of :24.24, :49.26 and 1:13.20. Weaving his way between horses on the backstretch, Johnny Bear was right on the leading duo's heels at the top of the stretch. Taken back in by Luis Contreras, the 7-year-old determinedly dug in to take control in the final sixteenth and hold off a late surging Mekhtaal and English Ilusion to score his first victory since winning last year's renewal of this event.
“It was a perfect trip,” said Contreras. “I saved all the ground, so nice and relaxed behind the speed, and I was just waiting for my moment. This was one of my best trips around the track. Turning for home, my first thought was to go the outside but at the last second, I changed my mind and I didn't see anybody coming on the rail. I saw the rail was a little bit open and he just went through like a knife through butter.”
Upsetting Hawkbill by a head last term, Johnny Bear was off the board in his next four starts. Third behind this race's sixth-place finisher Tiz a Slam (Tiznow) and Mekhtaal in the course-and-distance GII Nijinsky S. July 22, the gelding was second to English Illusion last time in the restricted Halton S., also over this track and trip, Aug. 29.
Pedigree Notes:
Johnny Bear is a full-brother to fellow Canadian champion, Grade II winner and MGISP Channel Maker. They are out of stakes winner In Return, whose most recent produce is the juvenile filly Court Return (Court Vision). This is also the family of Grade I-winning half-sisters Auntie Mame (Theatrical {Ire}) and Star De Lady Ann (Star de Naskra).
Saturday, Woodbine
NORTHERN DANCER TURF S.-GI, C$338,600, Woodbine, 9-15, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:25.74, fm.
1–JOHNNY BEAR, 123, g, 7, by English Channel
1st Dam: In Return (SW), by Horse Chestnut (SAF)
2nd Dam: Bartered Bride, by Shadeed
3rd Dam: Lady Vixen, by Sir Ivor
(C$275,000 Ylg '12 CANSEP). O-Colebrook Farms and Bear Stables, Ltd.; B-Tall Oaks Farm (ON); T-Ashlee Brnjas; J-Luis Contreras. C$216,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. Turf Male-Can, 40-8-8-6, $689,265. *Full to Channel Maker, Ch. 3yo Colt-Can, GSW & MGISP, $815,000. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”ontario-bred-sold”]2–Mekhtaal (GB), 123, h, 5, Sea The Stars (Ire)–Aiglonne, by Silver Hawk. (€300,000 Ylg '14 ARAUG). O-Al Shaqab Racing; B-Haras du Mezeray and Skymarc Farm (GB); T-H. Graham Motion. C$60,000.[bullet ad=”mersant-international”]3–English Illusion, 119, g, 5, English Channel–Stormy Illusion, by Woodman. (C$18,000 RNA Ylg '14 CANSEP). O-4U Thoroughbred Racing Stable Inc.; B-Douglas J. Reddington (ON); T-Sylvain Pion. C$30,000.[bullet ad=”hillndale-consigned”][bullet ad=”ontario-bred-sold”]Margins: HF, HF, NO. Odds: 16.90, 3.15, 34.45.
Also Ran: Markitoff, Patterson Cross, Tiz a Slam, Vexatious, Hawkbill, Utmost, Seeking Albert.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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