G T Five Hundred rallies in Thorncliffe Stakes

Toronto, May 3, 2026— Winter-raced G T Five Hundred, rallied gamely and was up in the final strides to win Sunday’s $100,000 Thorncliffe Stakes at Woodbine.

Breaking from post position 3, the 6-year-old gelded son of Astern (AUS), settled comfortably in third, as favoured Poulin in O T and Scorching dueled at close range through an opening quarter mile in 21:62. ​ ​ ​

Around the bend Scorching (inside) and Poulin in O T (outside), continued their personal match race hitting the top of the lane together, having traveled the opening half-mile in 44:39. ​ ​ ​ Inside the three-sixteenths pole, Rafael Hernandez, Canada’s reigning and 2-time Sovereign Top Jockey, took aim at the leaders, closing stoutly on the outside to prevail in a blanket finish, by a neck over Scorching, who finished a half-length in front of Poulin in O T. ​ ​

“I sat behind the speed horses and I knew they would come back to me,” said Hernandez.

This horse I’ve been working and I like him too, I asked for a turn of foot and he showed up today.” ​

The winner may have tipped his hand on April 18^th, with a 4-furlong breeze over the Woodbine main track in :47 flat, best of 136 workers that morning.

Formerly trained by Michael Maker, G T Five Hundred, made his local bow a winning one for new conditioner Dale Desruisseaux and new owners Centennial Farms (Niagara) Inc. ​ ​

“We’ve had him about 6-7 weeks now, pretty straightforward horse,” said Desruisseaux, who said the bay Kentucky-bred could next target the Grade 3-Jacques Cartier on May 30^th at Woodbine. ​ ​

“Today we were a little worried, I think his best distance is six, six and a half where he doesn’t half to hustle so much for the first quarter. ​ I think he likes to be more forwardly placed than he was today.”

Go Kart Mozart unseated rider Sofia Vives during post parade, was quickly caught by outriders and was a late stewards scratch. ​

“When Go Cart (Mozart) scratched, I was worried that Poulin was going to be loose on the lead,” said Desruisseaux, “But luckily we got another pace pressure and it worked out.” ​

Post race, the rider of Poulin in O T filed an objection with the stewards against Scorching, alleging interference. ​ ​ The stewards determined there was insufficient evidence to warrant a change in the order of the second and third place finishers and no action was taken. ​ ​ ​

The Thorncliffe score made the well-traveled G T Five Hundred an 11-time winner from 41 starts and improved his synthetic record to a sterling 6 wins in 8 career starts over the all-weather surface. ​ ​

The five-furlong time in this event for 4-year-olds and up was :57:43 and the final running time was 1:04:64.

G T Five Hundred opened at 2-1 on the morning line, went off at said odds and paid $6.70 for the win. ​ ​ ​

Phil McSween, Woodbine