Forte Dei Marmi, under Alex Solis, put in a stirring stretch run to win Sunday’s Grade 2, $264,000 Sky Classic Stakes, at Woodbine.
After a disappointing tenth-place finish to Turallure in last year’s Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, the six-year-old son of Selkirk made his second start on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course a memorable one, winning the 1 ¼-mile event by three-quarters of a length, in 2:02.57, over ‘firm’ going.
Pacesetter and multiple stakes winner Stormy Lord, sent off at 21-1, was game to the wire and held second by a neck over Scalo, the German-based mutuel favourite, who settled for third.
Solis needed most of the 1,440 feet from the final turn to the finish line, but felt confident he could track down the leader.
“He’s a horse that likes to take his time, but he was very relaxed back there,” said Solis, who was positioned eighth and last through opening splits of :26.40 and :51.10, before improving to sixth at the stretch call. “At the top of the stretch, I thought it was time to go. I got him out and he did his thing. The way he was moving, I thought I had a good chance to get him.”
It was a rewarding victory for Hall of Fame conditioner Roger Attfield.
“I was hoping it wouldn’t be brick-hard ground,” offered Attfield. “It’s fast, but it’s got some give to it. I said to Alex this morning that if I’ve got him like I had him in the spring, which I think I did, he’ll win the race. He’s just a horse that has a big kick and a very relaxed horse early on.”
The Sky Classic was Forte Dei Marmi’s seventh win in 23 starts. The well-traveled gelding had raced in England prior to coming to North America last fall, beginning with the Woodbine Mile.
Forte Dei Marmi now has two wins, one second and a third from six starts in North America, including a victory at Keeneland on April 15.
He paid $14.10, $7.50 and $3.70, combining with Stormy Lord ($16.70, $7.60) for a $194.60 exactor. Scalo ($3.30) completed an $855.80 triactor. A $1 superfecta returned $2,003.20.
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