Roan Inish strikes classic gold in Woodbine Oaks
Thoroughbred Times by Mike Curry
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2010/June/13/Roan-Inish-strikes-classic-gold-in-Woodbine-Oaks.aspx

Robert Costigan’s homebred Roan Inish surged to the lead from between fading pacesetter Embur’s Song and fast-closing Moment of Majesty to win the $484,812 Woobine Oaks Presented by Budweiser by a head on Sunday at Woodbine.

ROAN INISH
Michael Burns/WEG photo

Embur’s Song shook free to a clear lead in the stretch of the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara for three-year-old fillies, but the 2-to-5 favorite began to shorten stride nearing the eighth pole as Moment of Majesty and Roan Inish closed in from the outside. Moment of Majesty held a slight advantage over Roan Inish but the winner found another gear from between fillies under jockey David Moran to cement the victory for trainer Carolyn Costigan.

Roan Inish covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.53 on the synthetic Polytrack surface to win for the second time from seven starts. She won the 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth Stakes in October at Woodbine in her North American debut after finishing second once in three starts in Ireland for previous trainer Jim Bolger.

Roan Inish closed out her two-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish in the seven-furlong Glorious Song Stakes on November 15.

The Elusive Quality filly returned from a 5 1/2-month layoff on May 1 and finished second in the seven-furlong Fury Stakes, which was won by Woodbine Oaks challenger Resentless. But stretching back out in her second start off the break, Roan Inish struck classic gold in the Woodbine Oaks at odds of 11.90-to-1.

Bred in Ontario, Roan Inish is out of two-time Canadian champion turf female Inish Glora, by Regal Classic.

Moment of Majesty was 1 1/2 lengths clear of Embur’s Song, who faded to finish third after setting the tempo through a half-mile in :47.92 and six furlongs in 1:12.26.

The Triple Tiara continues with the Bison City Stakes on July 11 and concludes with the Wonder Where Stakes on August 1, both at Woodbine.

Also on Sunday’s card at Woodbine, Big Red Mike battled back after he was headed in the stretch by Mobilizer to post a determined half-length win in the $146,256 Plate Trial Stakes (video), a prep race for the Queen’s Plate Stakes on July 4.

Big Red Mike made his stakes debut for trainer Nicholas Gonzalez and owner-breeder Terra Racing Stable in the Plate Trial, and he capably handled the step up in class. The Tenpins gelding covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.41 at 8.95-to-1 odds for his second win from five starts.