Husbands lands big one at Woodbine

TORONTO, Canada: Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands rode his fifth stakes winner of the 2003 Woodbine horse racing season when he guided hot favourite Maple Syrple to victory in the Clarendon Stakes on Saturday. Maple Syrple was the heavy 1/4 favourite in the CAN$166,500 event and scored by 3 1/2 lengths under Husbands to become the first filly to win the 5 1/2 furlong event in 21 years. The filly clocked a fast one minute 04.03 seconds, the second quickest time ever for the event after Tethra, who won in 1:03.60 in 1994. “It’s a great feeling sitting on her, she does what you want her to do,” Husbands said. “I’m just going to keep my fingers crossed that we’ll have more success with her,” added Husbands, who won last weekend’s prestigious CAN$1 million Queen’s Plate aboard the favourite Wando.

The win capped a fine day for Barbadian riders, with Husbands’ older brother Simon Husbands winning twice and Slade Callaghan also visiting the winners’ enclosure. Simon won the fifth aboard 7/1 chance Greattobeloved by 3/4 length, and the seventh by 1 1/4 lengths with My Sweet Tooch (3/1). Callagan prevailed in a terrific stretch duel to win the second aboard Mille Feville (9/5) by a nose over the 4/5 favourite Number One Cat, ridden by Robert Landry. Patrick Husbands is joint leader — with Todd Kabel — on 52 wins in the jockeys’ standings, while Simon Husbands is 13th with 17 wins, and Callaghan is 18th on 12 wins.