August 4, 2008
The third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown was contested at Woodbine on Sunday as a field of ten Canadian-bred 3-year-olds went 1 1/2 miles on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. However, Queen's Plate winner Not Bourbon and Prince of Wales winner Harlem Rocker both did not enter. Queen's Plate 3rd place finisher Solitaire was the 9-10 favorite despite still being a maiden. Frank Stronach homebred Sligovitz was the 5-1 second choice exiting a 1 1/4 mile allowance win, over 7-1 third choice Deputiformer, fifth in the Prince of Wales in his last start.
Marlang went to the lead immediately under regular jockey Richard Dos Ramos, getting slow fractions of 25.39, 50.41, 1:16.24, and 1:41.61 while being stalked by Kryptonite Kid and Solitaire down the backstretch. At the top of the lane, Marlang opened up a 2 length advantage through 1 1/4 miles in 2:05.73. Sligovitz, who raced in fifth early, came out wide for the drive but when whipped left-handed by new jockey Chantal Sutherland, he veered well outside. Sligovitz closed with a rush on the far outside but Marlang was long gone, cruising under the line 2 3/4 lengths clear in a final time of 2:28.58 for the gate-to-wire effort over the firm course. It was just 1/2 a length back from Sligovitz to favorite Solitaire third, who could not improve his position late.
Results chart from DRF
