TORONTO, Canada – Veteran Barbadian reinsman Patrick Husbands made an explosive start to yet another campaign at prestigious Woodbine when he won the feature CAN$112 000 Long Branch Stakes as part of a double on Saturday’s season-opening eight-race card.
Aboard 5-2 choice Dreaming of Drew in a 5-½ furlong contest in race seven, Husbands held off challenges, first from 7-1 chance Nikee Kan and then from 5-1 bet Jeanie B in the stretch, to reach the wire by a neck in one minute, 02.99 seconds.
The start was the first in 18 months for the Barbara Mishall-trained four-year-old chestnut filly and her second straight added-money score.
“I breezed her two weeks ago and she went the first quarter in like 34 [seconds] but I tried not to let her gallop out…,” Husbands said afterwards.
“But I breezed her last week and I came back and I called [Barbara] and said ‘this is the real deal’ so riding her today I knew it would take a really good horse to beat her, and I [wasn’t] scared of any horse in the race.”
Up against the four-year-old and upward fillies and mares, Husbands broke Dreaming of Drew sharply to duel with Nikee Dan through the early fractions, which came back in 21.74 seconds and 44.50.
The 48-year-old surged Dreaming of Drew to the front approaching the five-sixteenth but Jeanie B also took aim at the lead moments later, to create a heated battle off the final turn.
In the stretch, Dreaming of Drew led briefly before Jeanie B took over on the outside but Husbands pulled the best out of his filly and she hit back strongly at the wire.
“It was a bit tight but she is so game I knew she was going to run to the finish line. I knew she was fit enough,” Minshall said.
Husbands had earlier won the $101 200 race six, partnering with trainer Mark Casse’s 8-5 bet Beautiful Empire to beat the three-year-old and upward fillies and mares by four lengths in a five furlong dash.
Fast Corey and Forest Drift – who fell at the top of the stretch – led early before Husbands brought Beautiful Empire from off the pace to dominate. (CMC)
