TORONTO, August 25, 2024 – Scorching, trained by John Charalambous, took charge at the outset and never looked back in Sunday’s $200,000 Simcoe Stakes at Woodbine.
Sent on his way as the 2-1 choice in the field of 11 (Flirting With Fire was scratched), Scorching, under Patrick Husbands, fired to the front shortly after the gates sprung and settled into stride, followed by Tiernan, Magic Power, and Kokomo.
Ahead by a half-length after a quarter in :22.39, the son of Mo Town-Samsal held a 1 ½-length advantage through a half in :45.63.
Husbands kept his charge to task as several rivals dialed up the heat on Scorching into the turn for home, and the duo soon pulled away from their pursuers early in the stretch drive.
In front by four lengths at the stretch call, Husbands, who had crafted a similar winning game plan in the Muskoka one race earlier, delivered another sterling steer, this time by five lengths, to earn consecutive stakes victories. Kekoa was second, followed by Shadow Realm, and Awesome Rainbow.
The final time for 6 ½ furlongs over the all-weather was 1:17.57.
“This is a very nice horse,” said Husbands. “He has great tactical speed. John did a fantastic job getting him ready for this race.”
Owned by Paul Braverman and Timothy Pinch, the dark bay colt came into his first stakes test off a 35-1 runner-up result in his debut over 5 ½ furlongs on the all-weather track on July 19.
“I think John [Charalambous] did a fabulous job getting him ready,” said Braverman. “I think he [Scorching] is getting better with every race, and we were hoping for a good effort today.”
Bred by Huntington Stud Farm Corp., Scorching was purchased for $120,000 (CDN) at the 2023 CTHS Ontario Premier Yearling Sale.
He paid $6 for the win.
The 2024 CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale begins at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday with a catalogue of 244 (two supplements) at the Woodbine Sales Pavilion.
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
