TORONTO, ON – Live Oak Plantation’s homebred Global Access used an early stalking position to his advantage, sweeping to the front in the far turn before running home to win his graded stakes debut in Saturday’s $125,000 Marine Stakes (G3) at Woodbine.
Breaking from the rail under Patrick Husbands as the 5/2 second choice, Global Access settled comfortably in third while Hoffa’s Union took command heading into the first turn. Tipping out to run three-wide early, Husbands made sure he kept his steed in the clear while the pacesetter posted comfortable opening fractions of :24.90 and :49.69. Making up ground effortlessly down the backstretch, Global Access put his nose in front midway through the far turn while still running three-wide, and at the top of the stretch, he straightened out with a slight lead.
Though the heavily-favored Skywire was closing in on him in the stretch run, Global Access dug in and had enough left to keep him – and the rest of the field – at bay. The Michael Trombetta trainee crossed with a length advantage in a final time of 1:42.83 for the 1 1/16-mile event over the fast all weather track.
“I just wanted to get him in the clear,” Husbands said. “You’re riding the best horse in the race to your ability. I feel he was the best horse in the race – don’t matter he got beat last time – so I ride to my ability. The first five strides, I realized nobody wanted the lead, so I said let me just get from down here and keep him in the clear.”
After running at the rear for much of the race, Skywire failed to have enough pace to run into and had to settle for second as the 3/5 bettors’ choice. Dabo was 3 3/4 lengths behind him in third, with the rest of the field that same distance behind him. Lyrical Note failed to improve from his early stalking position in second and was able to only outrun a spent Hoffa’s Union to complete the order of finish.
Global Access’ win was his second in a stakes event following a triumph in the $115,000 DRF Bets Sophomore Turf Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on March 31. The 3-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway improved his overall record to 8-3-1-2 with $174,340 earned.
Global Access returned $7.50 to win and $3.10 to place, while Skywire paid $2.10 to place. There was no show betting.
