(From Woodbine)
Biofuel won her first added-money race and second overall, in taking the $250,000 Mazarine Stakes (Can-III) Oct. 10 at Woodbine (VIDEO).
Sent off at 23-1, the Reade Baker trainee was full of run down the lane, easily drawing off on her rivals to secure the milestone victory by 4 1/2 lengths over Natalma winner Bay To Bay. Witch’s Coven rallied to finish third.
In the Kentucky-bred’s fourth career start and first try around two turns, Biofuel traveled 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.47 on Polytrack under Eurico Rosa da Silva.
The daughter of Stormin Fever was patiently handled by da Silva, who watched Resentless take the eight-horse field through opening splits of :24.24 and :48.47, before the bay seized the lead with authority in early stretch.
Aboard the filly for the third time, da Silva was impressed with his mount's tenacity.
“We broke and she was relaxed,” said da Silva. “I was telling her, ‘Hey my darling, just relax, we’re going to do a big job in the end.’ And you know what, she responded pretty well and she did great.”
It was a decidedly different outcome from her previous start, a seventh-place finish in the one-mile Natalma, contested on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on Sept. 19.
“She’s a nice, sound, healthy filly,” said Baker. “The grass race was a toss. The sprint was a toss.”
Bred and owned by Brereton Jones, Biofuel broke her maiden in her career bow on July 25, before finishing fourth to Franny Freud in the Ontario Debutante Aug. 15.
“I thought we were in a good spot all along,” said Baker. “(Jockey) Jim McAleney worked her for me in June and said she’d win the Mazarine. Unfortunately (for him), he had to ride Ernfold for me the last time (in the Natalma) so he didn’t get to ride her today.”
On Oct. 9, Bear Stables' Fatal Bullet, trained by Baker and ridden by da Silva, won the $250,000 Phoenix Stakes (gr. III) at Keeneland.
Biofuel paid $48.20, $13.10 and $7.80, combining with Bay to Bay ($4.90, $3.50) for a $220.20 exacta. Witch’s Coven ($6.70) completed a $2,677.30 trifecta. A $1 superfecta returned $3,093.35.