Dresden Row Stuns Paramount Prince with Durham Cup Upset

In an exciting turn of events at the 114th Durham Cup on September 28 at Woodbine, three-year-old DRESDEN ROW pulled off a stunning upset against the heavily favoured PARAMOUNT PRINCE. The Grade 3 event, run over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta surface, saw the lightly raced Dresden Row, trained by Lorne Richards, defy expectations after displaying some pre-race antics in the paddock.

PARAMOUNT PRINCE, the reigning 3-year-old male champion and a formidable contender, entered the race with a stellar record of two consecutive front-running stakes victories, including wins over rival Stanley House. As the odds on favourite at 1 to 5, many expected a dominant performance from him. However, while he appeared enthusiastic pre-race with jockey Patrick Husbands, things took an unexpected turn on the track.

The race began with PARAMOUNT PRINCE quickly establishing the lead, but Rapid Test, ridden by Emma-Jayne Wilson, pushed him hard, holding him to fractions of 23.79 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.49 seconds for the half. As the race progressed, it became evident that the champion was under pressure, with Dresden Row, Ron’s Gizmo, and Stanley House closing in from behind.

As the field entered the stretch, it was a thrilling battle among the pack. Dresden Row, running wide alongside Ron’s Gizmo, surged forward to challenge for the lead. In a nail-biting finish, Dresden Row crossed the wire first, winning by a head in a time of 1:42.04. Meanwhile, PARAMOUNT PRINCE faded to last, finishing seven lengths behind the winner.

Jockey Ryan Munger reflected on the race, stating, "I planned my race, and the way the race worked out was my best-case scenario. I tracked them the whole way, and I knew he was going to run hard to the line. He fought the whole way, and this was the sort of run I was expecting from him. He’s a talented individual."

Dresden Row's victory marked his first stakes win and advanced his record to four wins in seven races, with earnings surpassing $194,000. Bred in Kentucky by TCR Ranch, he was initially purchased for just $11,000 at the Keeneland January sale before being bought for $70,000 at the April Ocala Two-Year-Olds in Training sale by Keith Johns’ True North Stable, along with co-owner Bloom Racing Stable.

Out of the Giant's Causeway mare Elle Special, a three-time winner herself, Dresden Row comes from a promising lineage that includes the successful Hopeful Treasure and ties to the illustrious PEINTRE CELEBRE, a winner of prestigious races such as the 1997 French Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

On a related note, the race day brought challenges with computer-assisted wagering impacting the betting landscape for the Durham Cup, while Ron’s Gizmo, despite not winning, lit up the scoreboard and drew keen interest from bettors.

Elsewhere on the card, Colin Davis’ APRICOT VALLEY THOROUGHBREDS secured its first winner when NATA TROUBLE triumphed in her maiden special weight race. The two-year-old filly, racing for Tequesta Racing, Inc. and MACS Stables, overcame favoured Periwinkle to win convincingly at 7 furlongs on Tapeta.

The day concluded with a change in plans as the E.P. Taylor turf course hosted only one race before the remaining contests were moved off the turf. The excitement and unpredictability of horse racing once again shone through at Woodbine, with fans left thrilled by Dresden Row’s remarkable performance.