Puntrooskie swooped to a geared-down victory in Sunday’s $127,750 Woodstock Stakes, at Woodbine.
Puntrooskie, a dark bay son of In Summation, was claimed for $50,000 by trainer Nick Gonzalez for Tucci Stables from a February 8 maiden event at Gulfstream Park.
Following a fifth-place effort on the Gulfstream grass, the Florida-bred gelding broke his maiden impressively in a 6 1/2-furlong main-track sprint on March 14.
Jesse Campbell, who guided another Tucci Stables’ claim, Midnight Aria, to a memorable Queen’s Plate score in 2013, sat off the early pace with Puntrooskie in the six furlong ‘Poly’ stake as Callmeoldfashion set splits of :22.19 and :44.85 with Go Greeley, recently crowned Canada’s champion two-year-old of 2013, pressing the issue from the rail.
Jose Sea View, sent to post as the 6-5 mutuel favourite, was urged into contention through the turn by Emma-Jayne Wilson and Campbell followed their lead with an impressive turn of foot by Puntrooskie to swoop the field en route to a five-length victory. Jose Sea View held on for place over Go Greeley. Puntrooskie stopped the clock in 1:09.31.
Campbell knew in the early stages of the Woodstock that he had a live horse.
“We were very closely bunched and I was going to throw him to the fence, but as soon as I got there I didn’t want to be there,” said Campbell. “He was coming up underneath me too easy. He wasn’t climbing over the top of them, but I was sitting on a lot of horse and I didn’t want to take a chance down in there.”
Sitting in a comfortable position outside of horses, Campbell waited until the last possible moment to make his move.
“I knew Emma (aboard Jose Sea View) was going to make a move on the turn and I just followed her,” said Campbell. “I didn’t expect to swoop them that easy, but he was very impressive.”
Puntrooskie earned $75,000 in victory while improving his record to 2-1-1 from seven starts.
He returned $11.50, $4.30 and $2.60, pairing with Jose Sea View ($2.60, $2.10) for a $26.10 (3-5) exactor. A 3-5-1 (Go Greeley, $2.20 to show) triactor was worth $49.
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