Classy ‘Cannon’ Shoots Down Epsom Milers

Cannon In D fired his best shot Saturday, when the four-year-old withstood a challenge by Ollie’s Quest to take the $90,000 Wa Versus Vic Stakes at Epsom on Saturday.

Usa set a mild early pace, with slight pressure by longshot Sacco And Vanzetti through the opening half-mile.  Though the pace was reasonable, with about four furlongs left, Cannon In D, with J Lawler on board, was set into motion, getting to the lead as they neared the top of the stretch.  Though Cannon In D did not look like he would be headed, Ollie’s Quest was gradually inching up on the winner throughout the stretch, in an effort that impressed many and hinted at better things to come at middle distances for the late-developing four-year-old.  Still, game as he was, he could get no closer than two lengths behind the winner as they crossed the wire.  Stretch-running St. Sakhee closed far too late, and wound up third, beaten five lengths.

Cannon In D, a son of Sadler’s Wells from a Blushing Groom(FR) mare, ran the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance in a very sharp 1:41 2/5, which earned this trainee of cream a 109 speed figure.  He’s risen to a ranking of 176 in the turf classic division, and earned $54,000 for his very first stakes win.  Sources close to the trainer stated informally that though October’s Breeders Bowl Mile was a distant possibility, there were still plenty of great races at middle distances on the grass to choose from this season, and that the possibility remained open to aim high in the next calendar year at a run for the ‘06 BB Mile.