Civaci Wins the (Satur) Day Woodbine’s Saturday afternoon card belonged to rider Sahin Civaci, who swept the pair of stakes featured on the 10-race program. Civaci, after collecting his 700th career win in the race prior, kept the ball rolling with a determined comeback triumph from Marty Drexler-trained mare Literate in the $150,000 Trillium Stakes Presented by Don Julio (G3). Woodbine’s leading jockey in 2024 put the finishing touches on his stellar Saturday in the $150,000 Ontario Colleen (G3T) with first-time stakes winner Candy Quest, who dug deep for the 1 ¾-length score. Literate and Sahin Civaci. Michael Burns Photography. Tip of the Hat Jose Campos had himself a Sunday, crossing the wire first three times, headlined by a strong-willed effort from Its Time to Shine in the $100,000 Pink Lloyd Stakes. Entering the six-furlong main track sprint off victories in the fourth and seventh, Campos inspired the 4-year-old bay son of Souper Speedy–Platinum Steel to hold off hard-charging even-money favourite Junior Hot Shot and collect his first stakes triumph by a head. The hat trick elevated Campos’ season purse earnings totals to nearly $800,000. It’s Time to Shine and Jose Campos. Sweet success Sweet Passions proved up to the task in her stakes debut, taking Sunday’s $100,000 Thunder Bay in dramatic come-from-behind fashion. Bred by the late Paul Buttigieg, and owned by his estate, the sophomore Passion For Action filly didn’t leave the gate gracefully, but quickly re-established her footing and settled at the rear. Locked into tight quarters, the Richard Hayashi charge benefitted from a few nifty maneuvers from jockey Ryan Munger and surged late to steal the Thunder Bay by a neck at 7-1. Sweet Passions’ third win from 11 lifetime starts paid $16.50. Sweet Passions and Ryan Munger. Michael Burns Photography. Stay tuned Live racing continues Saturday and Sunday. Post time for both days is 1:05 p.m. Share This:Share
