Husbands riding high

TORONTO – Patrick Husbands won his ninth stakes race of the season in another highly successful weekend at Woodbine racetrack, as he continued to make up for lost time following a return from injury.
The 40-year-old, whose season was marred by a near four-month injury layoff, produced another fine ride to capture the CAN$102 800 Ruling Angel Stakes with 3-1 bet Native Bombshell, in a 6-1/2 furlong sprint.
For Husbands, it was his sixth added money triumph in as many weeks, and pushed his earnings for the season to CAN$2.5 million from just 210 mounts this season.
The Barbadian now has 50 wins and a success rate of 24 per cent, and lies sixth in the standings headed by two-time defending champion Luis Contreras with 141 victories.
The stakes victory was part of a triple on Saturday’s ten-race card, as he also won race one with Eat My Tapeta and race seven with Savvy Hester.
Narrow miss
Husbands just narrowly missed out on the day’s main feature, the $150 000 Fanfreluche Stakes, when he finished second by a neck aboard 14-1 outsider Splashy Gizmo. The race was won by 12-1 chance Executive Allure, ridden by Brazilian Eurico Rosa da Silva.
In the Ruling Angel, Husbands raced Native Bombshell mid-pack for most of the trip as Just Got In and Silent Treat, disputed the lead over the half-mile.
Once in the stretch, Husbands roused the three-year-old filly and she responded, overhauling the leaders and the fast-finishing Cabo Queen, to reach the wire by a nose.
On Sunday, Husbands followed up with another triple on the 11-race card, winning race one with 3-1 bet Battle for Gold, race six with 5-1 chance Gia Scala and race seven with Take Three. (KP)