Fusaichi Pegasus Filly Rips Shady Well Foes

South Bay Cove, from the first crop of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, crushed a small field in Saturday's $160,350 Shady Well Stakes for Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

The bay 2-year-old Ontario-bred, out of 1998 Sovereign Award 2-year-old filly champion Fantasy Lake, seized an early lead under Todd Kabel in the 5 ½-furlong race and never looked back, crushing four rivals en route to the 12 ½-length win.

The previous largest margin of victory in the 51-race history of the Shady Well was 8 ½ lengths, set by Ada Lady in 1981.

Edith Prickley was second and Dancehall Deelites was another half-length back third in a race clearly dominated by South Bay Cove in 1:06.26.

It was the meet-leading 15th stakes win for Kabel, who had praise for the April foal after the race. "She has a ton of speed. When I asked this filly, she responded underneath me. I knew someone had to be running hard to beat me. She ran a great race."

Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield saddled South Bay Cove to the big win for owner-breeder Bill Graham's Windhaven operation. Attfield also conditioned Fantasy Lake for Graham.

"This filly (South Bay Cove) is quite hot-headed, but I had her really, really sharp today," Attfield said. "She just came out and annihilated them. She's a very nice filly."

South Bay Cove now has two wins in three starts for career earnings of $142,747. The Shady Well win was worth $96,210.

She paid $3.40, $2.60, $2.10 across the board and combined with Edith Prickley ($8.20, $3.50), a 16-1 first-time starter, for a $35.90 exacta. Dancehall Deelites paid $2.70 to show.

(Chart, Equibase)