Joe To Go wins in debut

Western Ace was the prohibitive favorite for the second division of the Burlington Stakes Saturday evening from Woodbine, but with the son of Western Ideal scratched sick from the event, the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse was there for the taking.

Cookerosa, in rein to driver George Brennan, was then sent off as the 1-2 post time favorite. After Cookerosa made a break behind the gate, it ended up being a wide open event.

Sitting close to the speed throughout fractions cut in :27.3, :57.4 and 1:26.1, Joe To Go ($30.60, $10.10, $8.20) and driver Luc Ouellette popped out in the lane and went on to post a quarter-length victory over Green Sign ($5.00, $5.10) and pilot Mario Baillargeon in 1:54.3.

Over a sloppy track rated two seconds slow, Joe To Go topped a $172.90 exacta with Green Sign, and headed a $1,223.30 trifecta completed by Impeccable, who, with Randy Waples in the bike, finished 1½ lengths in arrears.

“He just had enough to get there, but Mario was gone, so he [Joe To Go] did put in a pretty good effort to get to the wire,” Ouellette said about the Joe Seekman trainee, who the trainer owns along with L And L Devisser LLC, and Suttons Bay Racing. “It [the track] is tiring. It’s a little bit deeper than what it usually is.”

Joe To Go made his 2006 debut a winning one, bagging the $50,000 purse, sending his overall bankroll to $199,972 in what was his ninth career win.

(Woodbine release)

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