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Millie Girl, under Rafael Hernandez, made it two straight Grade 3 triumphs when taking the $150,00 Maple Leaf Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine.

Trained by Catherine Day Phillips, who co-owns (through her Kingfield Racing Stable Ltd.) with Braconcrest Inc. and Apricot Valley Thoroughbreds, the 5-year-old daughter of Hard Spun out of the Smart Strike mare Mendocino Beano entered the Maple Leaf off a hard-fought head score in the Ontario Matron (G3) on October 14.

Winner of her first two starts, both on turf, last summer at Woodbine, Millie Girl was just as impressive this time.

Sent off as the 6-5 choice in the 1¼-mile Tapeta test for fillies and mares, Millie Girl was near the back of the 12-horse field early. It was 64-1 Inventing who grabbed the lead, followed by Ever Smart and Il Malocchio, last year's Maple Leaf winner, and clicked off an opening quarter in :23.69.

Inventing widened her advantage over her closest pursuers to TK lengths through a half in :47.59, while Rafael Hernandez, aboard Millie Girl, was content to watch the proceedings from in 10th.

Still on top but holding a precarious lead swinging off the turn for home, Inventing was confronted by a host of closers, including Millie Girl, Solo Album, and Indy Champagne. It was Millie Girl who was traveling best of all, going from a charging fourth at the stretch call to a comfortable two-length winner. Solo Album was second, a length in front of Angelou. Indy Champagne was fourth.

The final time was 2:03.53.

“I tried to be as close as I could to the rail to save ground,” said Hernandez. “It was a big field, so I just tried to keep it clear, same situation with so many horses. I had her where I wanted. I didn't want to be too far back. I want to be involved a little bit in the race. I know she always gives me everything. She showed up today like last time and gave her whole heart.”

“She's such a special filly, she's a little quirky as you could see,” added Day Phillips. “She behaved better today in the winner's circle but then had enough. When she's had enough, she's had enough. She's very strong-willed.”

Bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry, the dark bay mare, who was contesting her fifth consecutive graded affair, has never finished lower than third in her 10-race career, posting a 5-2-3 mark.

“Our plan is to race her next season and we're looking forward to it,” noted Day Phillips, of the $67,000 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale purchase in 2021.

Millie Girl paid $4.50 for the win.

The post ‘Strong-Willed’ Millie Girl Charges To Maple Leaf Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Loyalty, under Kazushi Kimura, got back to her winning ways in Saturday's US$131,675 Bessarabian Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.

It was a spirited start to the seven-furlong main track race for fillies and mares, with 103-1 Owen's Tour Guide emerging on top, followed by the quartet of Miss Dracarys, Collecting Flatter, Ready To Venture (GB), and Love to Shop. Owen's Tour Guide owned a half-length lead over Miss Dracarys through an opening panel timed in :23.11, while Loyalty sat seventh of 13.

Owen's Tour Guide still led the pack through a half-mile in :45.67 but was confronted by a host of rivals into the turn for home. Loyalty, trained by Josie Carroll, had loomed into contention, gathering up steam between foes and bursting through with authority to take aim at the leaders.

A head back of Our Flash Drive (last year's winner) at the stretch call, the 4-year-old daughter of Hard Spun out of the Elusive Quality mare Slew's Quality went on to record a 1½-length triumph in a time of 1:22.27.

Love to Shop was second, a neck clear of late-running Dolce Sopresa, also conditioned by Carroll. Our Flash Drive was fourth.

“Last time, there were only a few horses in the front, and she was aggressive from the beginning,” said Kimura. “But today, there were so many front-0runners that fortunately we could set up behind and she was so comfortable from behind and she finished up strong.”

It was the first victory for Loyalty since July 23 when she earned her first graded crown in the Hendrie (G3). She was fourth in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) on September 18 and third in the Ontario Fashion (G3) on October 14. The dark bay also won last year's Lady Erie Stakes at Presque Isle and the 2022 edition of the Alywow Stakes at Woodbine.

“I thought she was extremely tenacious today,” praised Carroll. “She had every reason not to dig in, she was kind of shuffling around there a little bit and then she pinned her ears and away she went. It's pretty exciting when you get to handle a horse like that.”

Owned by Gainesway Stable and LNJ Foxwoods, Loyalty was bred in Florida by Best A Luck Farm LLC and Godolphin LLC. She was a $270,000 purchase by Solis/Litt at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where Gainesway consigned her.

She is now 7-0-2 from 11 career starts with purse earnings of $398,647.

Loyalty, the slight 3-1 choice, paid $8.10 for the win.

Two races earlier on the Woodbine card, Hard Spun's daughter Millie Girl won the $US124,500 Maple Leaf (G3) for fillies and mares.

The post Loyalty Surges From Midpack For Bessarabian Win, Caps Woodbine Graded Double For Hard Spun appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Smokin' T grabbed the lead with a furlong to run and drew clear late to win Saturday's 44th running of the $289,858 River City (G3) at Churchill Downs by 1¾ lengths over Harlan Estate.

Smokin' T, a homebred for Diana Ryan's DATTT Stable, ran 1 1/8 miles over a  Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:50.66 rated as good to defeat 11 other 3-year-olds and older.

Breaking from post No. 6 in the field of 12 under John Velazquez, Smokin' T relaxed just off the early leaders down the backstretch in midpack as Dominican Pioneer dictated the early pace through fractions of :23.33, :47.96, and 1:13.25 through six furlongs. Leaving the final turn, Smokin' T ranged into contention with a five-wide move and quickly met the leaders in upper stretch. Velazquez waited to drop his hands to ask Smokin' T for his best run with three-sixteenths of a mile to run and the 4-year-old War Front colt responded by darting past the fading Dominican Pioneer. Harlan Estate and Siege of Boston, who both raced far back early on, made late runs in deep stretch but they were no match for Smokin' T.

“He sometimes wastes a lot of energy early in the race pulling but he was better today,” Velazquez said of Smokin' T, who is trained by Shug McGaughey. “He got a good pace setup which helped him as well. He's improved all year long and ran very well today.”

Smokin' T returned $10.54 for the win as the 4-1 second betting choice.

Harlan Estate, off at 15-1, outfinished Siege of Boston by a neck for second.

Grand Sonata, Dominican Pioneer, Injunction, 3-1 favorite Rockemperor (IRE), Red Run, Kitodan, F Five, Cellist and Stitched completed the order of finish. Accredit, Beatbox and Street Ready were scratched.

The victory for Smokin' T was worth $174,150 and increased his earnings to $700,460. He boasts a record of 5-1-6 in 18 starts. Earlier this year, Smokin' T won the listed Fasig-Tipton Lure at Saratoga, which was his first stakes victory.

“He's always been a bit head strong in the early part of his races,” said Reeve McGaughey, assistant to his father. “I think he did a better job relaxing today and not wasting as much energy. We thought this distance would suit him better. It was also nice to see him finish well once he got in front. At Kentucky Downs two starts ago he sort of hung a little bit. He's had a solid year and likes this track here at Churchill.”

This marked Shug McGaughey's second River City victory. He won the seventh renewal in 1984 with Eminency when the race was carded at one mile on the main track.

Kentucky-bred Smokin' T was produced by the Ghostzapper mare Wine Princess.

The post Smokin’ T Gets Clear Late In River City For Graded Stakes Breakthrough appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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