Super Ciel Wins Playfair Classic

Trainer Bev Tomaskie would have been happy to celebrate her birthday with any old Spokane Derby victory.

Instead, Tomaskie, who owns Super Ciel with her husband John, gleaned an 11-length triumph that ranks with the most decisive in the long history of the West’s oldest thoroughbred stakes race.

Super Ciel, ridden by Chris Martin and toting top weight of 123 pounds, took the lead approaching the final quarter mile and went on to crush nine 3-year-old opponents in the 89th running of the Playfair Race Course classic.

A close fifth in the recent Playfair Mile, Super Ciel covered 1-1/8 miles in 1:53 3/5, excellent time over a track that has been winterized with a double dose of sand and several tons of salt.

Longshots Mantis and Baby Bon Dancer, fairly close throughout, finished second and third, a neck apart. Playfair Breeders’ Cup winner Just Another Buzz passed tired horses to place fourth.

Favored in the $100,000 Alberta Derby six weeks ago, Super Ciel was sent postward as the 6-5 favorite. He paid $4.40 to win, but teamed with the next two finishers for a $405.60 trifecta.

The purse, including $10,000 added, amounted to $12,300. Super Ciel, a Kentucky-bred bay gelding, banked $6,765. The triumph bumped his record to eight victories in 18 starts and improved his earnings to $83,724.

, DataTimes