Not To Be Ignored

The most amazing performance of this past weekend did not come in the Sword Dancer, where Telling went back-to-back (and beat out my top pick in the process). It did not come in the La Jolla, where Sidney's Candy dominated a strong field to win his first-ever try on the grass. No, it came a Triple Crown race from north of the border. 65-1 Miami Deco (pictured) scored a monumental upset in the final leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, The Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine.

Miami Deco stormed up the inside to steal the race from Stormy Lord, who appeared ready for glory after putting away what seemed to be his last challenger in Cognashene after a stout challenge in the stretch. The performance by Miami Deco was all the more amazing given the fact that entering The Breeders' Stakes, he was still a maiden. That's right, Miami Deco had never won a race before Saturday in his career. In fact, much like Sidney's Candy, this was the first time Miami Deco had ever tried to run on the turf before. The lineage certainly did not suggest that Miami Deco could accomplish such a feat as going 1 1/2 miles on the turf for the first time. His Sire is Limehouse, whose Sire was Grand Slam, he made his name at much shorter distances. The only clue that this might happen comes from the fact that the only time Miami Deco ever even hit the board in five lifetime starts was in the longest race of his career, at 1 1/8 miles over the polytrack at Woodbine on June 13.

So, in the final analysis, it is nothing short of a miracle what we witnessed on Sunday on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. A horse that had never won a race, never really been close to winning a race to be accurate, a horse that had never been on the turf before and never been the 1 1/2 mile distance rose up and shocked everyone by winning a Triple Crown race in Canada.

Is this a great game or what?

Tune in tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!

Photo courtesy of globeandmail.com