Never dismiss a defending champion.
Saturday at Woodbine, Sam-Son Farm’s homebred Checkered Past came into the co-featured $116,400 Trillium Stakes on a two-race losing streak, well beaten in both outings. And even though she was listed at only 3-1 in the morning line, she went postward at 9-1.
With jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva biding his time in second for most of the mile and one-sixteenth journey for fillies and mares, Checkered Past was eased off the rail turning for home, took dead aim at the even money favoured pacesetter Unspurned in late stretch and got by her just before the wire, winning by a neck in 1:43.29 over the Polytrack.
Last year, the daughter of Smart Strike-Catch the Flag only had two starts, winning an allowance contest before annexing the Trillium.
This year, the five-year-old began her season at Gulfstream Park but finished ninth on the turf in an optional claimer, before returning to Woodbine and winding up a non-threatening sixth in the six and one-half furlong Hendrie Stakes on May 9.
“I think this filly was just looking for the two turns,” explained trainer Malcolm Pierce. “She got a couple of races under her belt already this season and it all came together today.”
Unspurned and jockey Alan Garcia clicked off sensible fractions of :24.3, :49.14 and 1:13.08, enjoyed a clear lead turning for home, but couldn’t hold off the late challenge by Checkered Past. Miss Mischief came flying for third, just a half-length further back.
Checkered Past earned $72,000 for the win, her fifth in only 12 lifetime outings, pushing her career bankroll to over $325,000. She paid $20.10, $5.70 and $3.40, combining with Unspurned ($3, $2.30) for a $54.30 (3-4) exactor. A 3-4-2 (Miss Mischief, $2.90) triactor was worth $150 while a $1 Superfecta [3-4-2-5 (Uchenna)] returned $237.55.
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