Victory Achieved Nearctic Stakes success came in decisive fashion at Woodbine on Saturday, October 3, as the Mark Casse-trained five-year-old captured the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes over six furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course. Ridden by Rafael Hernandez for the first time, the Florida-bred gelding produced a powerful late run to defeat Nobals by three lengths in 1:09.30.
The $250,000 contest featured seven runners, with stablemate Essex Serpent taking the early lead and setting the pace through the opening stages. Victory Achieved settled fourth along the rail, while Western Whirl followed in second and Nobals raced prominently in third. Isivunguvungu travelled fifth, with Works for Me sixth and Gas Me Up positioned towards the rear of the field.
Essex Serpent completed the opening two furlongs in 22.48 seconds before reaching the half-mile mark in 45.49 seconds. Victory Achieved travelled comfortably behind the leaders before Hernandez moved him away from the rail approaching the midway point.
The move brought an immediate response from Victory Achieved. Hernandez guided him into the five path and the gelding began to make significant ground as the field entered the closing stages. He continued to accelerate through the final furlong and established a clear advantage before crossing the line three lengths in front.
Victory Achieved completed the six furlongs in 1:09.30 on a course officially described as good by Woodbine. Nobals finished second, while Works for Me closed well to take third. Essex Serpent finished fourth, followed by Gas Me Up, Isivunguvungu and Western Whirl.
Victory Achieved Nearctic Stakes Victory Completes Career Double
The Victory Achieved Nearctic Stakes triumph gave the gelding his first career turf victory and his first graded stakes success. Bred in Florida by Live Oak Stud and owned by Live Oak Plantation, he improved his record to five wins, four seconds and one third from 14 career starts.
Victory Achieved had not raced at two before breaking his maiden in his second career appearance at Woodbine. He then completed a local hat trick by winning two main-track allowance sprints. His four-year-old campaign included a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Bold Venture Stakes.
The gelding arrived at Woodbine after finishing second in two stakes races in the United States. Those performances had provided a strong foundation for his return to the Canadian track, where he had already established a useful record.
Casse had identified the Nearctic as a long-term target for Victory Achieved and had highlighted the horse’s current form before the race. The gelding subsequently delivered his most significant performance to date, combining tactical speed with a strong finishing effort.
Hernandez also produced an effective ride on his first appearance aboard Victory Achieved. He allowed the horse to settle close to the pace before moving him into clear running, a tactic that enabled the gelding to conserve his position before launching his decisive move.
The result also gave Live Oak Plantation a major graded stakes victory at Woodbine, while Victory Achieved added an important new achievement to his career record. His three-length success established him as the leading performer in the Nearctic Stakes field and completed a significant breakthrough on turf.
Victory Achieved Nearctic Stakes success gave the Mark Casse trainee his first turf and graded stakes victories after a three-length triumph at Woodbine under Rafael Hernandez.
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