Lady War Machine, a chestnut daughter of Street Boss, trained by Josie Carroll, called the shots in taking the $100,000 Alywow Stakes Saturday afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.
Breaking sharply with Patrick Husbands aboard in the event for 3-year-old fillies, the Kentucky-bred was settled comfortably into the second spot as outsider Hard Street led the field of six through an opening quarter-mile in :23.22.
A patient Husbands continued to keep Lady War Machine close to the pacesetter through a half-mile timed in :46.08. As the field turned for home, the duo swept to the lead along the inside and then dashed away from their rivals down the lane.
At the wire, Lady War Machine, contesting her first added-money feature, was three lengths ahead of a closing Honey Pants, sent off as the slight choice, who was making her Woodbine debut for conditioner Christophe Clement. La Libertee was third, while Dirty Dangle finished fourth.
Final time for 6 ½-furlongs over a firm E.P. Taylor Turf Course was 1:15.40.
“On the turf, everything plays out differently,” said Husbands. “I don't want to be on the lead and I don't want to get trapped down on the inside. She had her ears pricked and she wasn't scared down on the inside, so I was just playing it by ear.”
Husbands on-the-fly approach paid off with an impressive performance.
“The straight here is so long you've always got closers. It doesn't matter how you look at it… you've always got closers. With the turf, I try not to pick it up too early and go too early and get caught. I was just biding my time.”
Owned by Mark Dodson, Lady War Machine arrived at the Alywow off a sparkling 7 ½-length maiden-breaking score on July 3 at Woodbine, in a six-furlong main track maiden special weight event.
She finished third in her debut last November, a 6 ½-furlong Tapeta test at the Toronto oval.
Bred by SF Bloodstock, LLC, and Matthew Sandblom, Lady War Machine paid $6.10 for the win.
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