Toronto On.August 6, 2023.Woodbine Racetrack.Jockey Patrick Husbands guides Conman to victory in the $100,000 Hamilton Stakes.Conman covered the 7 1/2 furl on the inside turf in 1.28.3 for owner D. J. Stable LLC and trainer Mark Casse. Woodbine/ Michael Burns Photo
By Melissa Bauer-Herzog
D. J. Stable’s Conman, a graduate of the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale bred by Fred Hertrich III and John Fielding, registered his first stakes win Sunday with a victory in the $100,200 Hamilton Stakes at Woodbine.
Shipping to Woodbine from trainer Mark Casse’s Saratoga string for the Hamilton, the 3-year-old Constitution gelding broke well in the 7 1/2-furlong turf race. He settled into third a few lengths off leading Sir Lancelot through fractions of :23.38 and :45.91 under some pressure from Eyes On The King.
Conman was content to allow that pair to battle on the lead, several lengths back as the field raced into the far turn. A spot on the rail opened up for Conman at that point and he rolled up the inside to cut into the margin heading into the stretch.
Conman moved to the outside as the field straightened up and passed Sir Lancelot while drawing away from the field. Fellow New York-bred Lifetime of Chance tried to run down the winner but his stablemate was 3 1/4 lengths clear at the finish. Conman won in 1:28.65 over the firm turf.
D. J. Stable’s Lifetime of Chance, a son of former Sequel resident The Lieutenant bred by Destiny Oaks of Ocala, held second and was a half-length clear of another Casse runner, Eyes On the King in third.
“He seems like he wants to go further,” winning jockey Patrick Husbands said. “The pony had to pull me up just now. I just tried to get him in the clear and get him over to his right lead. And when I tried to get him over to his right lead, that’s when the other horse came. But when he got to his right lead, he just took off.”
Conman was purchased by D J Stable for $300,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales consignment at the New York-bred sale. He improved to 3-2-0 in 10 starts and boosted his bankroll to $181,592 with the victory.
Conman is one of two winners from four to race out of the five-time-winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Rare Medal. That mare is one of seven winners from seven to race out of Grandma’s Girl with the group led by the stakes placed Songsational. Conman’s fourth dam is champion and Grade 1 winner Northernette with the family also including Brazilian champion Didimo.
Rare Medal’s youngest is a 2-year-old Kantharos filly Becca Belle and after not having a foal in 2022, she was sold last November for $11,000.
