Vanzzy Invades Display Winner’s Circle

TORONTO, ON – Smart Angle’s Vanzzy invaded the Woodbine winner’s circle on Saturday, taking four local foes on a merry-go-round ride in the $100,000 Display Stakes.

Breaking from post 2 under Patrick Husbands as the 3/1 second choice on the tote, Vanzzy secured a clear lead heading into the clubhouse turn. While Finalist gave closest chase early on, Vanzzy posted opening fractions of :26.26, :51.32, and 1:15.19.

Heading into the far turn, Finalist came under a drive while Husbands remained chilly aboard Vanzzy, who sustained his lead as he straightened for home. The 4/5 favorite Elusive Knight made a move off of the far turn and posed a momentary threat, but the pacesetter dug deep and held sway.

Kept to a drive through the wire, Vanzzy crossed a 1/2-length in front of Elusive Knight. The Mike Pino trainee completed the 1 1/16-mile event over the fast synthetic main track in a final time of 1:45.90.

“I just get out front and get going,” Husbands said of his riding style out of the gate. “I did everything the first 1/4, the first 1/2, and about 4 1/2 (furlongs) out, I had to get my horse going – he got lazy on me. And by the time I got to the 3/8 pole, I was on a different horse and I just kept him alert.”

After stalking on the rail for much of the race, Elusive Knight’s effort wasn’t enough to get the job done, though he was 6 lengths clear of Finalist in the end. Northern Thunder and Red Mercury completed the order of finish.

Vanzzy’s win was the second of his career, having broken his maiden while going 1 mile over the Parx dirt course in October. The 2-year-old son of Verrazano, most recently second in the 7-furlong Parx Juvenile Stakes, has now earned $89,216to go with his 4-2-1-0 lifetime record.

Vanzzy returned $8.40 to win and $3.50 to place, while Elusive Knight paid $2.30 to place. There was no show betting.