Husbands wins eighth Clarendon for 10th added-money score

TORONTO, Canada – Seven-time Woodbine champion Patrick Husbands won his 10th added-money race of the season when he brought Muskoka Wonder with a late bid to win the CAN$125 000 Clarendon Stakes here Sunday.

Going off at odds of 2-1, Husbands stalked the leaders before rousing the bay colt off the turn, catching leader Crawl From the Bar mid-stretch, before comfortably taking the wire by 1-1/4 lengths in one minute, 04.47 seconds.

Pacesetter Crawl From the Bar, who went off as the 3-5 favourite, finished second while Moon Swings came in third.

For Barbadian Husbands, it was also his eighth success in the Clarendon and sixth in partnership with champion trainer Mark Casse.

“From day one since I got on him, he’s always had a big stride and is never bothered. He does everything right,” Husbands said afterwards.

“The first time I rode him I just got him out of the gates and played it by ear.”

Manfred Conrad, of owners Conrad Farms, praised the way Husbands had handled the two-year-old to date.

“I really have great confidence that he’ll do well in the future and thanks to Casse’s team and especially Patrick,” Conrad said. “Patrick just seems to ride him perfectly. We’re very excited.”

There was disappointment for Husbands in the supporting feature in race eight, the Eternal Search Stakes, when he narrowly missed out by three-quarters of a length aboard 7-2 choice Clickity Clack, as 3-1 bet Line of Vision took the wire first in the mile and sixteenth trip.

However, Husbands finished with a double on the 10-race card after earlier winning race two over a mile with favourite Special Forces.

He settled the three-year-old chestnut gelding mid-pack and off the lead held by Mizuchi and Hard Luck Charlie before storming to the front in the stretch and hitting the wire 5-1/4 lengths clear. (CMC)