TORONTO, ON – Live Oak Plantation’s homebred Global Access returned to his favorite track with aplomb on Saturday, taking over in the far turn and scooting away in the stretch to champion the $125,000 Ontario Derby (G3) at Woodbine.
Global Access broke from post 3 under Patrick Husbands as the 2/1 second choice and settled into second while carrying high weight of 124 pounds, conceding as many as 7 pounds to his five rivals. Just ahead of him, the rail-breaking 6/5 favorite Avie’s Flatter posted sensible opening fractions of :24.67, :48.53, and 1:12.07.
Heading into the far turn, Global Access turned up the heat and joined Avie’s Flatter on the lead. When Husbands set him down for the stretch drive, Global Access responded sharply. The Mike Trombetta trainee hit the wire 1 1/4 lengths clear for the 1 1/8-mile event over the fast synthetic main track. Global Access’ final time of 1:48.24 broke the previous record of 1:48.30 that Amis Gizmo set in 2016.
“We took the blinkers off of him and he’s a different horse on the (synthetic),” said Husbands, who also won the Durham Cup Stakes (G3) earlier on the card. “(Avie’s Flatter is) a class horse and I’m not going to let him get things his way. My horse carried 124 pounds, I’m not scared of that. To me, he looked like the best horse, so I kept pressuring the whole way, and when he answered, he gave me everything.”
Armistice Day split foes and came on late to take second by a 1/2-length over Jungle Fighter. Further back came Solidify, Avie’s Flatter, and Roaring Forties to complete the order of finish.
Global Access’ win was his second straight, having taken the Saranac Stakes (G3) at Saratoga on August 31. The 3-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway now carries a record of 12-5-1-4 with $373,401 earned.
Global Access returned $6.40 to win, $3.90 to place, and $2.50 to show. Armistice Day brought back $7.20 to place and $3.90 to show, while Jungle Fighter paid $3.60 to show.
