by Myra Lewyn

Haras Santa Maria de Araras’s homebred Palladio uncoiled his winning bid approaching the top of the stretch and drove clear to a track record-setting victory on Saturday in the $130,623 Durham Cup Stakes (Can-G3) at Woodbine.

Under a hand ride from regular jockey Richard Dos Ramos, the six-year-old Lycius horse finished a comfortable 1¾ lengths in front of Canadian classic winner Marchfield and covered 1 1/8 miles in a track record 1:49.29 on the synthetic Polytrack surface. The previous record of 1:49.38 was set by Sand Cove on September 28.

Palladio’s triumph was his first in more than 16 months and halted a nine-race winless stretch dating to a 2½-length victory over champions Judiths Wild Rush and True Metropolitan in the Eclipse Stakes (Can-G3) on May 21, 2007.

Palladio stalked from third as 2.20-to-1 favorite Monsoon Rain set the pace along the rail while Head Chopper rated in second. Marchfield, winner of the 2007 Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine, relaxed off the pace in fifth.

Head Chopper seized command from a tiring Monsoon Rain on the turn. Dos Ramos rallied Palladio four wide to challenge, he gained the lead at the eighth pole, and opened a commanding two-length advantage.

Marchfield split horses on the turn under Patrick Husbands and launched a determined rally, but he could not collar Palladio and finished a length in front of third-place finisher Artie Hot. Multiple stakes winner Monsoon Rain entered the Durham Cup on a five-race winning streak but faded to finish last of eight.

Palladio did not start this season until the Seagram Cup Stakes (G3) on July 27 at Woodbine and finished third to Artie Hot. He followed with a seventh-place finish in the Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1) on September 7 at the Toronto track before ending the losing skid on Saturday.

Palladio has been hampered by injuries during his career. He enjoyed his best season in 2005, winning four of nine starts including the Ohio Derby (G2), en route to Canada’s Sovereign Award as champion three-year-old male. But he was given the entire winter off after he chipped an ankle and underwent surgery. Trainer Roger Attfield brought the bay horse back the next season, but he sustained a condylar fracture while finishing sixth in his return in the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) in April 2006 at Keeneland Race Course and missed the remainder of the year.

Florida-bred Palladio, who is out of the Mari’s Book mare Gioia, improved to seven wins in 27 career starts and increased his bankroll to $756,525.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor