BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Third, just a length-and-a-half behind winner Anarchist in the 2023 Jacques Cartier (Grade 3), and a length-and-a-quarter short when second to Flag of Honour (Aus) in last year’s edition, Florida-bred Old Chestnut would not be denied in his third try in the US$113,537 Jacques Cartier going six furlongs on the synthetic main track at Woodbine Saturday.
Facing just two other rivals, Old Chestnut was sent to an early lead from post one by jockey Eswan Flores with 1-2 favorite Simcoe and rider Rafael Hernandez applying pressure from between horses in second. Okiro was a length back in third in the three path.
Simcoe tried to get by Old Chestnut around the turn but was turned away at the top of the stretch after a half mile in :44.13. The 8-year-old Florida-bred Old Chestnut then cruised home to win by two-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:08.17 on the synthetic main track. Simcoe was second with Okiro nearly four lengths farther back in third. Patches O’Houlihan, the 1-9 morning line favorite was scratched.
“It was something you didn’t expect,” trainer Martin Drexler said of Patches O’Houlihan’s absence. “But, I mean, horse racing always throws something at you, so glad to take it. So, I actually thought we were live in here.”
Flores said getting Old Chestnut to relax on the lead was important.
“He broke so sharp, you know, I just had to take the take his best move, which is, we won with him last year, going to the front,” Flores said. “When it was time to go, he gave me what he had, because the other horse [Simcoe] was trying to move on you and just couldn’t do it.”
Old Chestnut paid $9.50 to win.
The Jacques Cartier was the first graded stakes victory and second career stakes win for Old Chestnut. He won the US$107,000 Ontario Racing Stakes in 2019 in his third career start when owned by Live Oak Plantation.
It was his first win in four starts this year after most recently finishing fourth in a second level, $50,000 optional claiming won by Poulin In O T over five-and-a-half furlongs on the Woodbine synthetic on April 27. His most recent win came at that level in his last race of 2024 going six-and-a-half furlongs at Woodbine on Dec. 15.
Old Chestnut now has six wins, five seconds and seven thirds in 42 career starts with earnings of $432,262.
By Speightstown out of multiple graded stakes winner Pool Land, by Silver Deputy, Old Chestnut was bred in Florida by Live Oak Stud. Purchased by Live Oak Stud for $900,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton February Mixed Sale, Pool Land produced six winners from eight starters and eight foals. Old Chestnut is a full-brother to Florida-bred Speightsland, who was second in the 2014 Charlie Barley at Woodbine.
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