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Pick Pony | Oct. 13, 2024, 9:39 p.m.
Ecstasy, supplemented to the race by her connections, won Saturday’s $125,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes, for 3-year-old fillies, contested at 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine main track.
After early splits of :24.27 and :48.33 set by Managing Mischief, Ecstasy, sent off at 27-1, was roused to the lead around the turn for home, then opened up impressively down the lane on her way to a 1 ¾ -length score in a time of 1:43.37. Witwatersrand, the 5-2 mutuel choice, finished second by a head over Pendulum, who rallied to get third, a nose in front of Destiny Star.
“She’s a real honest horse,” said Aebly, who celebrated his first Woodbine stakes success. “She's got quite the character, but she gives you everything she’s got when you're running.
"She’s lovely. You can come off the pace with her, it doesn't seem to matter distance wise or surface.”
Bred in Kentucky by Martha H. Buckner and owned by Tucci Stables, the daughter of Paynter-Annihilations added to an already impressive 2024 campaign, moving her seasonal mark to 4-2-0 from eight starts.
It was the first stakes trophy for the dark bay.
“Well, there was nothing else really to put her into, and we didn't want to keep her in the barn,” said owner Lou Tucci. “What I'm surprised about is the 27-1 odds. That's the only thing I'm surprised about. She's just improving every step of the way.”
Ecstasy, a $32,000 (US) purchase at the 2023 OBS June Two-Year-Olds & HRA Sale, arrived at the Ontario Damsel off a second, a half-length back of the winner, in a 6 ½-furlong race over the E.P. Taylor turf on Sept. 20.
She debuted at Woodbine last November, finishing fifth, and broke her maiden in her sixth start, on June 21, a 2 ¼-length triumph at seven panels on the main track.
Now 4-3-0 from 11 starts, Ecstasy paid $57.70 for today’s milestone score. Ontario was scratched.
One race after earning his first Woodbine stakes victory, Fraser Aebly notched his first graded triumph when he guided A Game to an upset score in the Grade 3 $135,000 Ontario Fashion Stakes Presented by Tanqueray, Saturday at Woodbine.
Aebly, enjoying an impressive 2024 campaign, had little time to celebrate his first milestone moment when he piloted 27-1 Ecstasy to Ontario Damsel Stakes glory in race seven.
Just over half an hour later, the young rider teamed with the longest shot on the board, 48-1 A Game, to cap off a memorable fall day at Woodbine.
Star Candy and Beauty of the Sea (supplemented to the Ontario Fashion) slugged it out steps out of the gate in the six-furlong main track sprint for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, with the former eventually seizing the lead and taking her nine rivals through an opening quarter in :23.00, while Aebly had the Josie Carroll trainee settled into eighth.
Beauty of the Sea was a head on top of Star Candy through a half in :45.66, as Aebly maintained a patient hand with A Game, now ninth, but still in touch with the pacesetters.
Beauty of the Sea took control, but soon had to contend with Love to Shop, who was making a spirited run in the late going. A Game, who had begun to make inroads, found a seam between rivals with less than 100 yards to go, and gutted out a head win over Love to Shop. Beauty of the Sea was third, followed by 5-2 mutuel choice Ticker Tape Home.
The final time was 1:09.49.
“We broke well, and we got a nice trip, kind of in the third flight,” said Aebly. “Coming around the turn, I found myself kind of creeping up and I was waiting for a hole, and we got lucky and found one up the inside. I was sitting on a lot of horse and she tried so hard for me.”
Bred in Ontario by the late Bill Graham and owned by Mark Dodson, the 5-year-old mare made her stakes debut a memorable one.
“This filly has never been in better shape,” said Carroll. “And if you look at her past performances, she just shows up every time. It certainly seemed like the time to allow her to try stakes company. I think she’s at her best right now. She’s just peaking.
“And, you know, this young man gave her a terrific ride. I was a little worried when I saw the crowd, but he sat chilly, he sat patient, and then he was bold coming through. And the filly was the same way.”
Sired by Distorted Humor out of the Bernardini mare Cautious Dreams, A Game was a first-time out winner, posting a half-length victory at 6 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine main track (the race was originally scheduled for turf) on Oct. 15, 2022.
She arrived at the Ontario Fashion off a head triumph at six furlongs on the main track, on Sept. 21.
Now 4-1-2 from 10 starts, A Game paid $99.20 for the win.