Sunday, November 13, 2011

Favourites fall as Straight Story leaves Autumn foes reeling

TORONTO, November 14 – Richard Santulli's Straight Story, bred in New York by Gallagher's Stud, led gate-to-wire to capture Saturday's $161,600 Autumn Stakes, at Woodbine.

The Grade 2 event was the second win of the year for the five-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, whose previous score came in his seasonal debut when wiring the Grade 3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont on May 7.


Jesse Campbell sent 'Story' straight to the front in the mile and a sixteenth 'Polytrack' route notching a quarter in :24.39, as Court of the Realm and Pender Harbour stalked the early pace. Straight Story continued his lead down the backstretch, making the half in :48.27, a length in front of the stalking duo, who themselves had opened up a five-length on expected pacesetter Artic Fern.

Slade Callaghan, who held Pender Harbour under a snug hold down the backstretch, allowed the Prince of Wales and Breeders' Stakes winner more rein approaching the far turn and was quickly side-by-side with Straight Story turning into the stretch. Straight Story, however, found a second gear and pulled away to win by one and three-quarter lengths. Pender Harbour held on for place, a length and three-quarters ahead of Stunning Stag. The final running time was 1:42.87.

Campbell was content to let Straight Story write his own game plan.

"He broke sharp and we just let him run his own race," said Campbell. "We thought we'd be laying second. He's pretty adamant, the horse, when he left the gate to be on the lead. I let him get comfortable and tried to get away at the top of the lane. I didn't want to let somebody come to me, I wanted to open it up and try to hold on. He ran really game."

In 27 career starts, Straight Story has seven wins and six seconds.

Straight Story paid $78, $32.70 and $19, combining with Pender Harbour ($9.10, $6.20) for a $805.10 exactor. Stunning Stag ($3.50) completed a $5,827.40 exactor. Mobilizer rounded out a $1 Superfecta that returned $10,048.70.