Biofuel Powers to Victory in Star Shoot Stakes
So far this season at Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto, Canada many winners
have hailed from the United States, and Saturday's $157,000 Star Shoot Stakes
for three-year-old fillies was no different as Kentucky-bred filly Biofuel
convincingly beat four opponents across the line.
The six furlong Star Shoot Stakes contained two Canadian runners and three U.S.
runners. However, with just about half the race gone, race favourite Biofuel was
stone last as the field of five entered the home straight. But then her jockey,
E R Da Silva, asked her for more and she answered.
Amping up her speed, one by one she picked off the field until the only thing
between her and the finish line was air. The Woodbine crowd roared their
approval as Biofuel flashed across the line at least two lengths clear of Sharp
Secretary in second place, who led Tee Game in third place.
'She had so much power,' said Da Silva, who has ridden the filly five times. 'When I asked her, she accelerated. Last year she ran so mellow, relaxed and easy. She was on the muscle the whole way. She said, 'Eurico, let me go, please.' I think she was very happy when I turned her loose.'
Said her trainer, Reade Baker, 'She sat behind those horses and went around them. My job is to get her mellow for the La Lorgnette. I was very, very happy with her. We'll look to fry some bigger fish.' Baker was referring to the ungraded $125,000 La Lorgnette Stakes at Woodbine on May 23.
Biofuel covered the course in 1:10.01, and the victory was her third from six races. Horse racing fans may remember the filly from last year's $2-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Gr 1) at Santa Anita Park in California, where despite being sideswiped by Negligee, she still finished in fourth.
