A pair of juvenile colts, both sired by Claiborne stallions, completed the exacta in Woodbine’s $130,900 Grey Stakes (G3) October 27 going 1 1/16 miles.
Chapalu (Flatter – Panther Strike) went wire-to-wire, finishing a half length ahead of Muskoka Gold (Lea – Lunch Hour), completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.50.
It was the second victory in three starts for Chapalu, who is trained by Arnaud Delacour for owners Edward Seltzer and Beverly Anderson.
“He was doing it so easy,” said jockey Patrick Husbands. “When I got going in the first turn and he gave me his ears, I knew he wasn’t going too fast. And then by the five-eighths pole, his ears were still pricked, so I knew he wasn’t going too fast. Then by the three-quarter pole, his ears were still pricked and I said, ‘You know what? He’s the real deal.'”
Muskoka Gold has been among the impressive first two-year-olds for his freshman sire Lea. Prior to this runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Grey Stakes, Muskoka Gold captured the Cup and Saucer Stakes over this same track.