Spring in the Air, Canada’s reigning Champion Two-Year-Old filly, picked up her second stakes victory with a prolonged stretch run in Saturday’s $150,000 Fury S. at Woodbine. The 3-year-old Spring at Last filly won the Grade 1 Alcibiades S. at Keeneland last autumn.
Bred in Ontario by WinStar Farm LLC, proved the best in the seven furlong Fury after a wide stalking trip. Spring in the Air was third, in the three path, through a quarter in :23.74. Patrick Husbands urged his filly through the turn. She took command of the lead at the top of the lane, and was set down for the drive by Husbands to defeat Smartyfly by half a length in 1:23.51.
“Down the backside she was travelling so nice and easy, and we weren’t going that fast,” said Husbands. “At the top of the lane, she was still waiting on Eurico’s (Da Silva) horse (Smartyfly) and I had to really get into her. At the top of the lane, Eurico had me, but my filly wasn’t giving up. After the race she galloped out great, so she’s back to herself.”
The $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, on June 9, is the ultimate goal for the Mark Casse trained filly.
Spring in the Air banked $90,000 in victory, improving her record to 3-3-0 from eight starts, and upping her lifetime take to $542,067. She is owned by John Oxley, who bought her out of the 2012 OBS March Select 2-year-old sale for $130,000.
Spring in the Air is Spring at Last’s leading earner this year. The sophomore sire is in the top 10 on the Second Crop Sire list. His 50% strike rate with winners from starters in 2013 is the highest percentage of any second-crop stallion in the top 10.
