November 10, 2024
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Use That
The sequel to Integration’s perfect rookie campaign (3-0-0 with two graded stakes victories) hasn’t been as riveting, but the 4-year-old colt sure made a point to change that in Saturday’s $300,000 Red Smith (G2T).
Sporting a respectable yet unspectacular 6: 1-1-1 line leading into the 1 3/8-mile affair, Integration entered in a prime position to add a much needed high-value victory.
Not only was the Flavien Prat mount tabbed as the 6-5 closing line favorite, but he was also back at Aqueduct – the site of his second career graded score (Grade 2 Hill Prince).
That all culminated in the perfect storm for Integration, who confidently outlasted eight challengers to take the Red Smith by 2-lengths.
The get-right win paid $4.50.
Ready for Battle
Battle of Normandy waited over 14 months to get back into the graded stakes ranks, and the Luan Machado mount wasted no time showing why his return was long overdue.
Taking to historic Churchill Downs for the $300,000 River City (G3T), Battle of Normandy turned the tide on his opponents with a brilliant 1 ¾-length conquest.
Billed as the field of nine’s third choice at 4-1, the 4-year-old colt settled in nicely after a bold move around the first turn.
Now flaunting graded stakes winner status, Battle of Normandy improved his lifetime line to 5-3-1 through 13 starts.
The breakthrough effort paid $10.32.
And Now we Rest
Work hard, get rewarded.
That should be the mantra for 3-year-old Deterministic, who earned himself a well-deserved break after a strong-willed one-length triumph in Saturday’s $200,000 Hill Prince Stakes at Aqueduct.
Making his eighth start of the year, Deterministic needed every last ounce of energy to fly to the front of the pack and deliver on his lofty 8-5 billing.
A helpful hand from rider Joel Rosario made that possible, as the veteran jockey authorized a perfectly timed push for the comeback victory.
Should this be Deterministic’s final trip around the track this season, the Christophe Clement trainee will head into the new year off a 3-2-1 record.
The Hill Prince score paid $5.50.
Storm’s a Comin’
What better way to introduce yourself to graded stakes competition than to steal your very first attempt by a half-length over the favorite?
That was the story for Stormcast in Saturday afternoon’s $135,000 Bessarabian (G3) at Woodbine.
Leaving from post two, the stakes winning Mark Casse trained filly (August’s Bison City) shot out of the gate with purpose and never relented to secure the 7-furlong tilt over 5-2 favorite Love to Shop.
The milestone moment, which elevated Stormcast’s career line to 8: 3-4-1, paid $8.40.
That’s Better
Be Your Best (IRE) was anything but ahead of the $300,000 Long Island, missing out on the winner’s circle in 13 consecutive starts.
However, something must have changed going into the 1 3/8-mile contest, as the 4-year-old stunned Aqueduct’s Sunday afternoon crowd with a riveting decision by a nose over 8-5 favorite No Show Sammy Jo (GB).
Under the steady hand of a savvy veteran in jockey Frankie Dettori, Be Your Best put it all together in an unexpected gate-to-wire triumph.
Be Your Best, at 9-1, paid a cool $21.80 for officially ending the ghastly slump.
