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Ice Bear wins With Approval Stakes!
Ice Bear captured the $100,000 With Approval Stakes on Sunday at Woodbine Race Track after prevailing in an exciting stretch duel.
Ice Bear, a 4-year-old, Ontario-bred gelding by Maria's Mon, ran the 9 furlongs on Woodbine Race Track's all-weather surface in 1:50.44 under jockey Chantal Sutherland.
The victory in the With Approval Stakes was the second added-money score in as many days for the jockey-trainer-owner combination of Chantal Sutherland, Mac Benson and George Strawbridge's Augustin Stable. The trio also won the Duchess Stakes with Sugar Bay.
Benson said he had no concerns when the 1 1/8-mile With Approval was relocated from Woodbine Race Track's E.P. Taylor Turf Track to the Polytrack.
Sutherland, who advanced to the lead late on the backstretch, said she hadn't planned to engage front-running Mike Fox (half in :49.94) so soon.
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Sutherland said Ice Bear responded well to Marchfield's stretch pressure.
"He seemed like, in the morning and from his program, he's an old warhorse. I knew that Mac would have him fit. He was really strong and tough. It was great," said Sutherland.
Ice Bear paid $6.10, $3.40 and $2.90 for his With Approval Stakes victory. Marchfield returned $3.50 and $2.70 while Awesome Action paid $4.20. |
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