Question takes Nearctic as Fire Lily flops Next Question narrowly got the better of Night Carnation in the Group One Nearctic Stakes at Woodbine last night. Entry to next month's Breeders' Cup was guaranteed for the winner of the six furlong contest and Ramon Dominguez used all his strength to get the winner over the line. Michael Trombetta's four year old, a winner of a claiming contest at Belmont last month, was pressed all the way by Andrew Balding's Night Carnation. A late lunge on the wire took the Sleeping Indian filly as close to the front as she'd been throughout the contest but, in truth, Johnny Velazquez's mount never quite seemed like getting there. She had every chance having jumped well and held a perfect racing position just in behind the pace but that was in stark contrast to the run of David Wachman's Fire Lily. Drawn on the outside, the Dansili filly - who had beaten Gordon Lord Byron in August - lost any chance when giving the field a couple of lengths start when slow to break. Wayne Lordan attempted to make his move rounding the home turn but was forced to challenge about six wide and the three year old was a spent force halfway down the home straight. Third place was filled by Bear Tough Tiger who was always to the fore from the one box while Big Bad Sound fared best of the closers in finishing with a rattle into fourth. Winning rider Dominguez told www.woodbineentertainment.com: "He is a horse with a lot of natural speed and when we left the gate and I saw the (number) one (Bear Tough Tiger) trying to make the lead, I was excited about that. "I kind of wanted to rate and stalk, but my horse was really pulling me and taking me forward so I decided to just keep him together. I was very happy with how he relaxed and turning for home he gave me a pretty good kick." Last year's Nearctic winner, Regally Ready, went on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs.
