Husbands wins Connaught Cup Stakes with Grand Adventure

TORONTO, Canada (CMC):

Barbadian Patrick Husbands captured the CAN $158,000 Connaught Cup Stakes on Sunday when he partnered the four-year-old colt Grand Adventure to an upset victory going seven furlongs at Woodbine racetrack.

The 36-year-old Husbands, who topped the Stakes charts here last season, brought home the 9-2 bet in 1:19.4 seconds, which was just outside the six-year-old track record.

His victory was one of three on the day's 10-race card at the top Canadian race venue, and it took him to a clear lead of 40 wins and across the $2 million-earnings mark.

Husbands kept the colt in range throughout the Grade Three event before getting clear a furlong out and winning by a length.

"We sort of threw him to the wolves last year. He's matured. It looked today like he'd go another furlong or two," trainer Mark Frostad said.

Disappointing

Odds-on favourite Rahy's Attorney, the 2008 Woodbine Mile winner who also captured the Connaught Cup that same year, finished a disappointing sixth, while 2008 Queen's Plate champion, with Barbadian Jono Jones aboard, was fifth.

Earlier, the multiple Sovereign Award winner linked up with his longstanding connections, millionaire owner Eugene Melnyk and trainer Mark Casse, as he grabbed his opening win with the three-year-old chestnut filly, Tamarind Hall, in the day's second race going seven furlongs.

Husbands was quite at home over the trip as he stalked the pace with the filly before taking the lead in the upper stretch and driving home 1-1/2 lengths clear with little fuss.

He then closed the day's proceedings aboard the three-year-old bay colt, Accomplice, covering another seven furlongs handsomely to win by 2-3/4 lengths.