Arzak, under Kazushi Kimura, dominated his rivals while putting his name in the Woodbine record books in Sunday's $106,400 Thorncliffe Stakes, setting a track record for 5 ½ furlongs on the synthetic main track.
Trained by Michael Trombetta for owner Sonata Stable, Arzak, the 5-year-old son of Not This Time covered the distance in 1:02.36 to establish the new benchmark. The previous record for the distance was 1:02.70, set by Legal Move on April 6, 2008.
Arzak was making just his second start at the Toronto oval after breaking his maiden in his second career start there on November 8, 2020.
Breaking sharply from post seven, Arzak sat just off early pacesetters Spite Store and Richiesinthehouse, who took their seven rivals through an opening quarter in :22.14.
Kimura kept a patient hand on the John Oxley-bred chestnut, waiting for the right moment to make his move. And when he did, Arzak, sent off at 6-1, responded with an explosive turn of foot, dashing away from the field at the head of the lane to cross the wire an easy 3 ¼-length winner.
Multiple graded stakes winner Silent Poet was second and a late-closing Lenny K was third. White Flag finished fourth.
“I already talked with the trainer,” noted Kimura. “That horse a couple of times had traffic trouble. I just made sure to warm him up well. I just kept him clear, and I already knew that number six [Spite Store] had speed, so I just sat beside him.”
It was the fourth win and second stakes score from 12 starts for Arzak, who took the Tom Ridge at Presque Isle last August.
He arrived at the Thorncliffe off a sixth-place effort in the Showing Up Stakes last November at Gulfstream Park.
“I guess this horse really loves the Tapeta,” said Kimura. “I hope the horse will stay here.”
Arzak, a Kentucky-bred out of the Tapit mare Delightful Melody, returned $14.
Kumira, the recently crowned Sovereign Award winner a champion jockey, has picked up where he left off last season, capturing three consecutive wins on the card. He found the winner's circle with Grandmas Favorite in race two, Ibrim in race three, as well as Arzak.
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