There was magic in the air at Woodbine on Sunday as two young stars announced themselves in style. Zabarta, making her stakes debut, delivered a performance that left the crowd in awe, while Reload Raleigh battled to a gritty first stakes victory in the Frost King.
In the $100,000 South Ocean Stakes, a seven-furlong test for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies, Zabarta appeared patient at the back of the pack under jockey Desean Bynoe. Hot Stuff Baby, a 27-1 outsider, set a blazing early pace, chased by favorite Souper Diva and Sipping History. Through a fast opening quarter in :22.74 and a half in :46.58, Zabarta remained poised, conserving her energy.
Then, midway down the stretch, Zabarta surged. With a decisive kick, the Bill Tharrenos trainee cruised past her rivals to win by seven lengths. Pageant Queen finished second, with Sipping History another 2 Âľ lengths behind. Souper Diva, unable to sustain her early speed, crossed fourth. The final time was 1:24.61.
“This is exhilarating,” Bynoe said after claiming his first stakes triumph. “She’s very game, and she waits for me to ask. I just had to be patient for that one kick, and she delivered perfectly.” Tharrenos, celebrating another highlight of his campaign, added, “She’s getting better with each start. Her attitude might have been an issue earlier, but today she showed her promise.” Zabarta, bred by Cyril Simek and sired by Abarta, broke her maiden just nine days earlier and now boasts a 2-0-0 record from four starts. She returned $29.50 to win.
Just moments later, the $100,000 Frost King Stakes for Ontario-sired 2-year-old colts and geldings delivered its own drama. Reload Raleigh, under Ryan Munger, engaged in a tense duel with Big Bold and First and Imyourmedicineman from the break. Big Bold and First led briefly through the opening quarter in :22.52, but Reload Raleigh wrested control by the three-eighths mark and held a half-length advantage through a half in :45.45.
Silver Is Best, coming from off the pace, made a late surge, but Reload Raleigh refused to yield, prevailing by a head in 1:24.99. Souper Sporty finished third, 6 ¾ lengths ahead of Auntie’s Bambino. Munger, savoring his win, noted, “He needed company in the stretch to really kick in. Once he had it, he dug in. It was fantastic to see him learn and grow.”
The chestnut gelding, bred by Jon Hyka and owned by Kevin Drew, broke his maiden on September 14 and has now made significant strides in just three career starts. The slight 7-2 favorite paid $9.10 for the win, marking an important milestone in his development. Zabarta and Reload Raleigh both impressed in their stakes debuts, highlighting the depth of Ontario-sired 2-year-olds at Woodbine this fall.
Read the full Woodbine stakes report on RaceBuzz here.
