Sir Winston Green-Cards It to a Belmont Stakes Victory
This month's got the makings for solid sports achievements in the Great White North.
The Toronto Raptors are making a convincing case that they'll wrest the NBA championship from Golden State's Warriors.
Now, Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse has NAFTA'd two of the Triple Crown's jewels above the 49th parallel, joining two others:
Casse had already pinned a Maple Leaf on the Preakness with War of Will, who entered the gate at Belmont as a 9-2 play, behind only Tacitus at 5-2.
However, dude's other horse in the race, Sir Winston, cruised the 1.5-mile course under the guidance of jockey Joel Rosario -- their first ride together -- and pleased punters who backed him at 10:1.
Like his namesake, Sir Winston fought them on the straightaway, fought them on the turn, and fought them down the stretch.
He never surrendered, and powered home:
Tell it like it is, Winnie ...
With these payouts -- not to mention Jovia's contribution -- damn right it was:
Thus ends a sorta wacky Triple Crown season ...
- The Kentucky Derby featured a DQ and a lawsuit, since dismissed;
- The Preakness featured a Canadian winner and a riderless horse crossing the finish line; and now
- The Belmont Stakes featured an equine tribute to D-Day's 75th anniversary.
There's always joy in Canada, and now, there's a little more.