Curlin’s Voyage Named Mazarine Victor

TORONTO, ON – Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings’ homebred Curlin’s Voyage was named the victor after a pair of steward’s inquiries disqualified the original winner Skygaze in Saturday’s $125,000 Mazarine Stakes (G3) at Woodbine.

Breaking from post 3 as the even-money favorite under Eurico Da Silva, Curlin’s Voyage took back and watched as Skygaze crossed over Take Charge Eh heading into the clubhouse turn, forcing Take Charge Eh to pull up. With Glorious Gizmo keeping close watch down the backstretch, Skygaze posted opening fractions of :23.87, :48.20, and 1:12.66.

Heading into the far turn, Curlin’s Voyage ran three-wide into second and began ranging up alongside Skygaze. At the top of the stretch, Skygaze drifted out several paths and knocked Curlin’s Voyage off her stride. Both fillies recovered without incident, with Curlin’s Voyage trying to reengage as Da Silva steered her back toward the inside.

Skygaze crossed 2 lengths ahead in a final time of 1:43.30 for the 1 1/16-mile event over the fast synthetic main track. However, steward inquiries into both the clubhouse turn and the stretch run disqualified Skygaze to third, naming the Josie Carroll-trained Curlin’s Voyage the winner and placing Take Charge Eh second.

“I think this filly is still very immature,” Carroll said. “She’s still figuring out how to run, as you saw down the lane when that horse sort of came in front of her, and it took her a long time to get her momentum back. She’s still figuring it all out.”

Special Honor, Roman d’Oro, and a well-beat Glorious Gizmo completed the order of finish.

Curlin’s Voyage’s win was her second straight, having broken her maiden here on September 8 in her two-turn debut. The 2-year-old daughter of Curlin, whose first two starts were on-the-board efforts in the Victoria Stakes and the Shady Well Stakes, now carries a record of 4-2-1-1 with $135,238 earned for Hill ‘n’ Dale Holdings, who co-owns the filly with Windsor Boys Racing.

“I think she settled better than the last time, but I think she’s still a filly with a bright future that has a lot to figure out,” Carroll said.

Curlin’s Voyage returned $4.20 to win, $2.70 to place, and $2.30 to show. Take Charge Eh brought back $5.70 to place and $3.8 to show, while Skygaze paid $3 to show.