by Ron Parker

Robert S. Evans’s homebred Akronism won her second consecutive graded stakes race at Woodbine as she drove to a one-length victory in the $148,395 Seaway Stakes (Can-G3) on Saturday.

The four-year-old Not For Love filly won the Royal North Stakes (Can-G3) on turf on August 2 and made her first start on a synthetic surface in the Seaway.

The seven-furlong Seaway drew seven fillies and mares. Marina Ballerina set the pace through rapid fractions of :22.54 and :44.87 through a half-mile and six furlongs in a blistering 1:08.95. Akronism tracked the leader from second and drove to the front in the stretch to prevail in 1:21.51.

“She broke well,” jockey Eurico Da Silva said. “She was on the wrong lead, I think, because it was her first time on this track. She switched leads and from there on she ran perfectly. Once she got on the right lead, I was just steering her around.”

Marina Ballerina easily held on for second, 4 ¼ lengths clear of Executive Flight.

Akronism has had success in the United States, including stakes victories at Philadelphia Park and Laurel Park, but failed to hit the board in a pair of graded stakes races before she was shipped to Woodbine. She finished sixth in last year’s Darley Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.

After the Seaway victory, Akronism could be pointed to the Sentient Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on the synthetic surface at Santa Anita Park.

“The filly obviously has tremendous quality and the [Breeders’ Cup] is where [trainer Tim] Ritchey wants to go,” said Patrick Lawley-Wakelin, racing manager for Evans. “I think she deserves a shot, without any doubt.”

Lawley-Wakelin said Akronism could make her next start on the Polytrack surface at Keeneland Race Course.

Out of the Explosive Bid mare Jerry Bomb, Akronism has earned $516,132 with nine wins in 21 starts.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer