Woodbine - Dec. 3, 2006
Arch Hall ($4.30) captured the 1 1/16-mile Sir Barton Stakes for the third year in a row at Woodbine on Sunday.
Arch Hall trailed the six-horse field of Ontario-sired runners on the backstretch, while racing about three lengths off the leaders. His stablemate, Schooner Bay, and Millfleet dueled through moderate fractions and were joined up front by Executive Choice on the far turn.
Arch Hall circled four wide on the far turn, then wore down Executive Choice and Soul Rebel in the final furlong to score by a neck in a time of 1:45.89. Executive Choice finished a neck ahead of Soul Rebel in second.
"I was in a perfect spot," said Patrick Husbands, who rode Arch Hall for trainer Mark Casse. "When you pull the trigger, you've got to do it at the right time with this horse. He got the job done today."
Arch Hall, owned by Melnyk Racing Stable, earned $75,000 of the $125,400 purse.