Goldstryke Glory made every pole a winning one to capture Wednesday’s $100,000 Apelia Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Kelly Callaghan for owner Barry Holmes, the three-year-old daughter of Second in Command-Glory is Forever arrived at the Apelia Stakes off an impressive 7 1/2-length score in the inaugural edition of the Inglorious Stakes.
With regular rider Jesse Campbell in the irons, Goldstryke Glory was once again prominent in the Apelia setting splits of :22.25 and :44.39 with Grade 3 Seaway Stakes champ Youcan’tcatchme keeping close watch.
Goldstryke Glory, always in command, widened on the turn and held strong through the stretch run to notch a 1 1/4-length victory in a final running time of 1:09.19. Youcan’tcatchme nosed out Nikkis Smartypants for place.
Campbell left the gate with every intention of making the lead in the six furlong ‘Poly’ tilt.
“We didn’t want to change anything today. She’s speed on paper,” said Campbell. “She’s quick but she’s not rapid. It’s very kind. It doesn’t sound right to say when you go :44 and change, but it’s a kind :44 and change.
“She smoothes out when she goes into the turn, so I gave her head and she held them off to the wire. She was so quiet in the gate, I was actually a little worried. How often does that happen with a speed horse? But it shows that she’s happy.”
Goldstryke Glory, who broke her maiden at Woodbine in 2012 for trainer Terry Jordan, started her 2013 campaign at Hastings Park under the tutelage of trainer Anita Bolton before shipping back to Woodbine.
The dark bay, following a fourth-place run in the Duchess Stakes in her Woodbine return, is now on a three-race win streak for Callaghan.
“Anita and Terry did an unbelievable job getting this filly ready. She couldn’t have come to me in better condition and she came with a handbook on how to deal with her,” said Callaghan. “I really didn’t have any problems with her. We just followed into a routine, she got used to us, we got used to her and the rest is history.”
Callaghan believes that Goldstryke Glory, who hit the half in a scintillating, wind-aided, :42.94 in her Inglorious romp, is only getting better with each start.
“She wasn’t as tired as we thought she would be (after the Inglorious,) said Callaghan. “She’s come out of each race better and better and she’s maturing and figuring out what her job is.”
Goldstryke Glory, bred in B.C. by Phoenix Rising Farms, banked $60,000 in victory, while improving her record to 4-3-1 from nine career starts.
She returned $3.50, $2.20 and $2.10, pairing with Youcan’tcatchme ($2.30, $2.10) for a $5.90 (3-5) exactor. A 3-5-4 (Nikkis Smartypants, $2.50 to show) triactor was worth $15.80. Roxy Gap was scratched.
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