ICYMI: Underdogs, longshots, and surprises highlight an exciting weekend of horse racing across North America

TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon

Underdog Sandwich

Based purely on closing line odds, Saturday’s $250,000 Perryville Stakes at Keeneland seemed like a two-horse race between Dr. Venkman (even-money) and Verifying (9-5).

After the heavy favourites, the remaining four competitors in the field of six closed at 6-1, 7-1, 13-1, and 15-1, respectively. So, it’s only fitting that the contest finished with both favourites sandwiched between a different pair of underdogs.

Dr. Venkman rode a late push into second place to surpass third-place runner, Post Time (7-1), but didn’t have enough left in the tank to track down top-dog Raise Cain (6-1). Verifying was very much in the race down the stretch but couldn’t find a second gear, drifting to a fifth-place result between 13-1 Confidence Game (sixth) and 15-1 Loyal Company (fourth).

On his own, Raise Cain paid $14.88 on a $2 win bet. Together, the underdog sandwich returned $114.30 for a $1 triactor wager.

Touch and Go

For eventual winner Touch’n Ride, Saturday’s $150,000 Ontario Derby (G3) was touch and go for a little while.

Initially, Kentucky-bred Solo Album claimed the top spot and second graded-victory of her 10-start career, but a foul claim against the filly’s rider Sahin Civaci prompted a stewards’ inquiry.

The ‘foul claim and inquiry process’ is horse racing’s version of a football coach’s challenge and booth review.

Just like a head coach can throw the red challenge flag to call for an extensive review, jockeys and trainers can make claim of foul against their opponents. That said, an unsuccessful or “frivolous” claim can result in a monetary penalty or suspension for the claimant.

However, the Ontario Derby was not one of those cases. As a result of the inquiry, Solo Album dropped to fifth and Touch’n Ride was elevated to first.

Touch’n Ride paid $6.80 for the win.

Harper’s Heating Up

Believe it or not, there’s another young phenom named Harper dominating in October.

While Bryce is doing his thing with the Phillies at age 31, 2-year-old filly R Harper Rose has yet to lose a race through three career starts.

The Florida-bred kept her unbeaten streak alive after cruising to a four-length victory in the second leg of the $200,000 Susan’s Girl at Gulfstream on Saturday. Running at the seven-furlong distance for the first time proved to be no sweat for R Harper Rose (1-5), who faced minimal resistance from the nine-horse field to return a modest $2.60.

With the victory, she is likely to compete in the $300,000 My Dear Girl final leg on Dec. 1. The Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee will have to stretch out, once again, this time to 1 1/16 miles.

Competitive Edge

Regardless of who you had, the final moments of Saturday’s Raven Run Stakes (G2) were intense.

4-5 closing line favourite Alva Starr set the pace early, maintaining a respectable lead deep in into the $349,375 affair. The filly looked poised to take home her second career graded stakes win until Vahva (3-1) made her presence known around the final sixteenth.

The Cherie DeVaux trainee showed remarkable poise, kicking it into gear at just the right time to slide past Alva Starr and capture career win number four.

Last week, we highlighted Vahva’s track record of success at the seven-furlong distance as a key advantage for the 3-year-old, especially considering Alva Starr had not previously run at that route of ground.

Ultimately, it proved to be the deciding factor. For the win, Vahva paid $7.06.

That’ll do the Trick

Perfect Crime’s first win of the 2023 campaign was a massive one for trainer Patrick Dixon.

The unexpected victory in Sunday afternoon’s $100,000 Overskate Stakes at Woodbine marked the first stakes triumph of Dixon’s career. The landmark victory also served bettors well, returning $21.30 on a $2 win bet.

All the talk coming in centred around opening line favourite Patches O’Houlihan, who was riding a six-race unbeaten streak into the Overskate. Unfortunately, the 3-year-old was a scratch.

With the field shortened to seven, Perfect Crime and Woodbine’s leading rider by wins (114) and earnings ($7.1 million), Kazushi Kimura, took advantage of the favourite’s absence to pull off an upset Dixon won’t soon forget.