Thursday, July 17, 2008

Piper in the Glen upsets Deputy Minister

TORONTO, July 16 - Piper in the Glen tagged 2-5 favorite Stuck in Traffic in the shadow of the wire to capture Wednesday's $125,000 Deputy Minister Stakes at Woodbine.

The son of Trajectory rallied stoutly from the rear of the four-horse field to capture his first career stakes event in a time of 1:24.30 for seven furlongs.

Piper in the Glen, who is owned by Jesse Self, finished a neck in front of Stuck in Traffic, who established fractions of :22.94 and :45.87. Delaforce finished third.


The Deputy Minister was the first Woodbine stakes victory for Fort Erie leading rider Chad Beckon.

"Just after the five-eighths pole, I noticed Stuck in Traffic took back and was trying to slow the pace," said Beckon. "I watched the others bunch up. Going to the three-eighths, I eased my horse back, gave him some daylight and made the best of it."

For trainer Zeljko Krcmar, the victory was his first stakes score since Mr. Carter took the $25,000 Vulcan Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in 1999.

"Chad rode him to perfection," said Krcmar. "I told him to sit back and wait and, in the last three-eighths, go after him."

Piper in the Glen earned $75,000 for the victory, raising his earnings to $98,508. The gelding is now 2-for-5 lifetime.

Piper in the Glen returned $20.40 and combined with Stuck in Traffic for a $39.30 exactor.

Stray Cat Stride was scratched.

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