NEWS
Classic Stamp repeats in Canadian Handicap
Posted: Sunday, September 18, 2005
William Sorokolit's Classic Stamp, winless in her last seven starts since capturing last year's Canadian Handicap (Can-G2), once again rose to the occasion in this year's running with a game victory in the 1 1/8-mile turf contest on Sunday at Woodbine.
The $316,538 event attracted a field of nine older fillies and mares with Shaconage installed as a slight favorite over Spotlight.
Velvet Snow and Black Rock Road took the early lead while the two favorites were content to draft in behind the leaders. Entering the final turn, Shaconage made a menacing move outside of Spotlight as the leaders bunched up and entered the stretch four wide across the track.
Shaconage was the first to weaken as Classic Stamp, who had been racing in midpack with leading rider Emma-Jayne Wilson in the irons, came charging up an open lane near the rail and Ambitious Cat, last during the early running, came flying past horses seven wide on the outside.
Classic Stamp's earlier move proved to be the winning margin as she held off Ambitious Cat for a 1 ¼-length score. Mona Rose finished another three-quarters of a length back in third.
The 24-year-old Wilson, an apprentice, was riding Classic Stamp for only the second time, but she and the Regal Classic mare go back three years.
"The first time I saw her, she was a two-year-old," Wilson said. "I have her first win picture on my wall and her first stakes win picture on my wall. When she was with (trainer) C. C. Hopmans—I was freelancing—I would breeze her for him. I knew her like the back of my hand."
Bred by her owner in Ontario, Classic Stamp has won six of 22 starts and $930,751 in earnings. She is out of the Our Native mare Native Rights and is a half sister to Barbara Fritchie Handicap (G2) winner Prized Stamp.
See chart, courtesy of Equibase at
http://www.equibase.com
