Twin B Warrior came flying home off cover to capture the $100,000 Willowdale Stakes for four-year-olds on Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack
Oakmont (Simon Allard) crossed over to the pylons from the outside post position to establish the early lead, but gave way to elimination winner Sparky Mark (Mark MacDonald) past the :26.4 opening quarter. Sparky Mark’s lead was short-lived though as Art Professor (Mario Baillargeon) cleared once they hit the backstretch.
Art Professor led the field past the half in :54.3 with 8-5 favourite Good Bad Lucky (Jody Jamieson), the other elim winner, moving first over. Jackets Required (Randy Waples) followed his cover as did Twin B Warrior and driver Sylvain Filion.
Art Professor was still in control as field hit the third quarter station in 1:23.1 but couldn’t hold off the late closers. Good Bad Lucky took over with an eighth of a mile to go but it was Twin B Warrior who came charging up off cover on the far outside with a :27.1 final frame to prevail in 1:51.1 by a neck. Good Bad Ugly was second and Art Professor held on for third over Jackets Required and Sparky Mark.
Twin B Warrior paid $12.30 to win as the 5-1 fourth choice. The Apaches Fame-What An Attitude gelding, who finished just a half-length behind Sparky Mark in his elimination, won for the first time in three starts this year. Twin B Warrior, an Upper Canada Cup, Burlington Stakes and Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final runner-up last year, notched his eighth career win and boosted his bankroll to $568,361. He is trained by Jeff Gillis for owner Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont.
Gillis and Nichol also clicked two races earlier as Ideal Race and driver Randy Waples converted from the pocket to win Saturday’s $30,000 Preferred Pace.
Firing from Post 7, Astreos Flash (Jamieson) rolled up to take the lead ahead of Ideal Race and Real Mean Art (Luc Ouellette) just before hitting the quarter mark in :27-seconds. He raced past middle splits of :55.4 and 1:23.3 before Ideal Race pulled the pocket in the stretch and wore him down for the 1:51.3 victory. Real Mean Art finished one and a quarter lengths behind, edging out Astreos Flash for second.
Ideal Race paid $5.90 to win as the bettor's choice. Gillis co-owns the son of Western Terror-Eidette Hanover, who earned his first win of the year in two starts, with Nichol. The winner of 13 races lifetime surpassed the $400,000 mark in earnings tonight.
To view Saturday's results, click here.