Sir for Sure impresses in winning Breeders' Stakes

TORONTO — It was sweet redemption for the connections of Sir for Sure, who closed the curtain on this year’s OLG Canadian Triple Crown with a command performance in the $400,400 Breeders’ Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine.

After a forgettable experience in the Prince of Wales, second jewel in the Canadian Triple Crown, where Declan Carroll fell off the son of Sligo Bay — Serena’s Rose — into the first turn, the jockey took to Twitter soon after and shared, "We will live to fight another day."

On a perfect autumn afternoon at Woodbine, Carroll and Sir for Sure lived up to those words.

Gaston, who hadn’t run in either the Queen’s Plate or Prince of Wales, broke alertly and was joined by Duke of Love, winner of the latter race, on the front end, while Sir for Sure was eighth of nine through an opening quarter of 24.94 in the 1 1/2-mile test over a firm E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

The lead pair were still tussling on the front end through a half reached in: 49.09, as Carroll maintained a patient hand on the Plate Trial winner, the duo running comfortably along in seventh.

It was Gaston on top by a head after a mile, keeping that advantage after a mile-and-a-quarter. Sir for Sure, sixth choice in the betting at 6-1, began to pick up the pace, and was a menacing presence in third.

A half-length in front at Robert Geller’s stretch call, Sir for Sure began to power away from his rivals as stablemate, fellow Mark Casse trainee, Hall of Dreams, second in the Queen’s Plate, came with a strong late run along the rail.

At the wire, Sir for Sure, bred and owned by René and Darlene Hunderup, was a 2 1/4-length victor. Hall of Dreams completed the Casse exactor, while Lac Macaza was third. Dancin in Da’nile finished fourth but was relegated to seventh for interference in the stretch, elevating Gaston to complete the top four.

The final time was 2:28.88.

Kathryn Sullivan, assistant to Casse, was thrilled to see the bay gelding, third in the Plate to Moira, back on track.

“It’s so exciting,” said Sullivan. “I’m almost in tears. I’m so proud of him. It was great to get him to come back and be able to run the race. That’s all you want, is just your horse to go out there and run the race. And he got to do that today and we got to see how good he is. It’s wonderful.

“These owners are so wonderful. They do everything. They’re in the stalls mucking. They’re so hands-on. Just a great win for them. So proud of Declan. He rode a great race. And I’m really proud of our other horse who was second. It was so exciting.”

For Carroll, riding in his first Breeders’, it was an equally satisfying outcome.

Any disappointment over the Prince of Wales is in the rear-view mirror.

“In the first turn, it was very messy,” recalled Carroll. “I was between two horses. In the first turn, I felt my horse slip in behind and when he slipped in behind, I unfortunately lost my right iron and that’s when my body unfortunately twisted, and I came off. But luckily today, he got to show how good he is.”

With the win, Sir for Sure is now 3-1-1 from eight starts.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 2, 2022.