TORONTO, July 19, 2026 – G T Five Hundred relaxed perfectly with blinkers off to score a 31-1 win in Sunday’s $175,000 Grade 2 bet365 Connaught Cup at Woodbine and cap a memorable day for rising training star Dale Desruisseaux. Ridden for the second straight race by jockey Jose Campos, G T Five Hundred broke sharply from post position 5, settling in 2nd, as recent Eclipse Stakes winner Maycocks Bay seized early command through an opening quarter mile in :23.46. In the 7 1/2-furlong inner turf sprint for 3-year-olds and up, Maycocks Bay was again loose on the lead, like he had been in the main track 2-turn Eclipse, through an opening half mile in a rapid :46.20. Into the far turn, Piper’s Factor joined the fray, outside of G T Five Hundred, who efficiently saved ground as the field of 8 negotiated the bend. The Godolphin owned/bred Maycocks Bay, ridden by Sofia Vives, turned for home with the lead, through an opening 6-furlongs in 1:09.76, but G T Five Hundred emerged in the 2-path to challenge and under confident handling by Campos, went on to prevail by a hard fought 1/2 length over wide rallying shipper Irish Aces. The final running time was 1:28.64. Previously trained by Michael Maker, G T Five Hundred (winless in 5 prior starts on turf) was making his 4th start under the tutelage of Desruisseaux, who earlier on the card, captured the Plate Trial Stakes with Highwaytothemoon. “I just took the blinkers off him today. He’s worn blinkers every race of his life,” said Desruisseaux. “I didn’t know if it was going to be a mistake or not, but I mean, it worked out. So, you know, I just wanted to get him a little relaxed. We learned a lot about him the second start that he doesn’t want to be rated, and I think the longer distance allows him to just to be freewheeling and you know use what his attributes are.” ntering the Connaught Cup, G T Five Hundred was the most experienced runner in the field with 43 lifetime starts. The 6-year-old bay son of Astern (AUS) won his Woodbine debut, taking the 5 1/2-furlong Thorncliffe Stakes by a neck with Rafael Hernandez up. Next, he finished 6th in the Grade-3 Jacques Cartier, before joining forces with Campos, who guided him to a 3rd place finish in the Grade-2 Highlander Stakes on the local inner turf. The highly touted mare Miss Vyvyanne defeated males in that race, but G T Five Hundred galloped out impressively alongside the winner. “All they told me about the race is just try to stay behind the behind the speed. I never fought with the horse. I put it in a good position when I was asking to run my horse. He gave me everything he had on the line,” said Campos. Bred in Kentucky by Joe B. Mulholland Jr., John P. Mulholland & Karen Mulholland, G T Five Hundred improved to 11-6-7 from 44 lifetime starts, while breaking his turf maiden for owner Centennial Farms Inc, who also own Plate Trial winner Highwaytothemoon. Following the Connaught, the rider of Piper’s Factor launched an objection against the winner for interference, but no action was taken by the stewards. G T Five Hundred opened at 15-1 on the morning line, floated up to 31-1 at post time and rewarded his backers with a tidy $64.20 return on a $2 win ticket. Irish Aces closed to finish 2nd, Maycocks Bay held 3rd and Piper’s Factor finished 4th. Phil McSween, Woodbine Share This:Share
