Seek and Destroy Wins With Ease In Ontario Colleen

TORONTO, ON –  Shipping in from the United States, Seek and Destroy ran like she was on a mission, picking up the win in Saturday’s $125,000 Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3) at Woodbine. Seek and Destroy is now two for three in 2019 after also winning the G3 Soaring Softly at Belmont Park in May.

Sister Peacock broke well to the front for the early lead and was joined by I’ll Take the Gold on the outside. I’ll Take the Gold pushed the pace early on and gained a slight lead over Sister Peacock while Double Medal and Queen of Bermuda sat about a length off of the leaders. The 8-5 favorite, Seek and Destroy sat mid-pack and relaxed while the leaders set fractions of :23.27 and :46.57.

Into the final turn of the new inner turf course at Woodbine, Seek and Destroy picked up the pace, flew up the rail, and cut to the outside of Sister Peacock, to move right into the lead to finish in first by and easy three-lengths. Speedy Soul came on well late for second ahead of Sister Peacock and Carnival Colors finished fourth.

“I know the Stuart Simon horse [Sister Peacock] was the one that was going to be on the lead for sure and when I saw the other one [I’ll Take the Gold] with Skye [Chernetz] going after him, I just decided to stay right there, just right behind the speed,” said winning jockey Luis Contreras. “I had so much horse all the way and she destroyed the field at the end.”

Seek and Destroy was bred by William B. Harrington and is owned by e5 Thoroughbreds. Chad Brown trains the three-year-old daughter of Verrazano who has now won four races in seven career starts and amassed $226,423 in career earnings.

Seek and Destroy returned $5.50 to win, $3.40 to place, and $2.50 to show. Speedy Soul brought back $4.50 to place and $2.60 to show, while Sister Peacock paid $2.50 to show.

Scratched: Holyanna, Wings of Dawn