EARLY LEAD, FIRST TO FINISH - MIZZEN MAST GELDING CAPTURES THE PUSS N BOOTS STAKES

Taken from NiagraThisWeek.com:

This year, it was Francine Villeneuve’s turn to take the plunge.
Villeneuve was aboard Kettle Rapids when the grey gelding staged a repeat performance when he crossed the finish line first in the annual Puss N Boots Cup at Fort Erie Race Track Monday. The post-race dip for the rider of the Puss N Boots winner is one of the most popular traditions at the 114-year-old border oval.
Krista Carignan was aboard Kettle Rapids for the 2010 race.
Heavy rain over the weekend resulted in the annual turf event being run on the dirt instead. A field of 12 colts and geldings ran a distance of 1 1/16 miles for a purse of $30,000.
Myckie Neubauer trains the seven-year-old son of Mizzen Mast for RMC Stable.
“We have been unlucky with the track’s surface. His last two races were in the mud and he wasn’t comfortable racing on it,” explained Neubauer. “Today he loved the surface and won!”….

….Kettle Rapids took the early lead straight from the gate setting an opening quarter of 24.4. Nearing the half-mile mark he was challenged by Pure Rey ridden by Bradley Wilson. Wilson and his colt actually grabbed a short lead but it didn’t last long as Kettle Rapids and Villeneuve dug in gamely and Kettle Rapids proved too much for the challenger and pulled away to win by four lengths.
“He was awesome today. He took control from start to finish,” said Villeneuve. “We were pressured by the other horse but I knew we wouldn’t be beat.”

Date: 08 September, 2011