NEWS
Palladio storms to Autumn Stakes score
Posted: Saturday, November 14, 2009 6:19 PM
PALLADIO
Michael Burns photo
To view the Autumn Stakes, click here.
by Tim Nichols
With a strong finishing kick, Palladio closed from last in the nine-horse field to score a visually impressive win in the $147,965 Autumn Stakes (Can-G2) on Saturday at Woodbine.
A Haras Santa Maria de Araras homebred trained by Roger Attfield, the seven-year-old Lycius horse secured his seventh career stakes win, all but one at Woodbine.
“When he does show up he’s a good horse,” winning jockey Richard Dos Ramos said. “Today, he was all business when the gates opened up.”
Palladio was reserved near the back of the field early as Crown Isle led after a half-mile in :49.71 and six furlongs in 1:14.31.
Last after a half-mile, Palladio started to advance along the outside on the far turn. Six-wide approaching the stretch in seventh position, Dos Ramos gave Palladio his cue and he responded with a powerful turn of foot.
Palladio overhauled six opponents and drove to an impressive two-length victory at odds of 9.20-to-1. He covered 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic Polytrack surface in 1:43.74.
“There was just a little hole at the top of the lane and I was hoping he didn’t hesitate,” Dos Ramos said. “He didn’t, and when I got through I knew it was all over.”
Awesome Rhythm battled gamely to hold on for second, while Pool Play closed strongly for third.
Canada’s champion three-year-old male of 2005, Palladio earned his second stakes win of the year. He won the Seagram Cup Stakes (Can-G3) on August 3.
“I’ve had him since day one and he’s a very good horse,” Attfield said. “The race has to have pace and he has to be covered up as long as possible and make a quarter-mile run. I’m surprised he didn’t get any respect, because I loved him today.”
Bred in Florida, Palladio improved to nine wins in 35 career starts with earnings of $960,813. Palladio is out of the winning Mari’s Book mare Gioia.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor for Thoroughbred Times
