Diamond City Best In Ontario Racing Stakes, Derrynane Gets Woodbine Cares Win

Jockey Joel Rosario guides Derrynane to victory in the Woodbine Cares Stakes at Woodbine.

Diamond City, under Emma-Jayne Wilson, took the $130,750 Ontario Racing Stakes, while Derryane, with Joel Rosario in the irons, won the $126,750 Woodbine Cares Stakes, Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

The Ontario Racing, for two-year-olds, and the Woodbine Cares, for two-year-old fillies, were each contested at five furlongs on the Inner Turf.

A chestnut son of Shackleford, Diamond City, trained by Mark Casse for D.J. Stable LLC, was the 4-5 choice in the Ontario Racing.

The Kentucky-bred settled just off the early pace before taking a narrow lead at the stretch call.

Diamond City, who came into the race off a pair of third-place finishes to launch his career, drew away in the late going to win by 1 ¾-lengths in a time of :57.68 over firm ground.

Bred by Canvasback Thoroughbreds, he paid $3.60 for the win.

Derrynane, sent on her way as the 8-5 choice, powered by the leaders in mid-stretch to record an impressive 2 ¾-length triumph for trainer Christophe Clement and owner-breeder Waterville Lake Stable.

The daughter of Quality Road was patiently handled by Rosario as Fulminate set the early tone, but Derrynane loomed a major threat as the field made the turn for home.

Once the bay filly struck front, it was simply a question of what the margin of victory would be.

The final time over firm going was :57.04. Derrynane returned $5.50.

It was the second win from three starts for the New York-bred, who won her debut this July at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Former champion jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva, who was feted early as the recipient of this year’s Avelino Gomez Memorial Award earlier in the afternoon, made the trophy presentation.