Artie's Princess takes early lead, keeps it in Ballade Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The heavily favored Belmont shipper Artie’s Princess made the lead soon after the start and never looked back to take the $101,600 Ballade Stakes under Patrick Husbands at Woodbine on Sunday.
Lorena broke on top in the six-furlong Tapeta sprint, but Artie’s Princess assumed command after a sixteenth of a mile and opened up a daylight lead heading into the turn.
Lorena closed the gap to about 1 1/2 lengths early in the stretch, but Artie’s Princess repelled the challenge and drew off to prevail by three lengths, in a posted final time of 1:09.35.
Trading Bay edged out another longshot, the supplemented Souper Pecan, for third in the 12-horse field of Ontario-sired females.
Artie’s Princess is the first Woodbine stakes winner for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Canada’s champion female sprinter in 2020, the daughter of Plate Trial victor We Miss Artie is unbeaten in three starts with Husbands aboard. She had been idle for 11 months when fourth in the previous start in the Grade 3 Whimsical here May 8.
“She showed you on form that she’s a class horse,” Husbands said. “I just let her enjoy herself. (Joseph) asked me to ride her last time and I couldn’t ride her. It was an honor that they offered me back the ride. I feel good.”
Artie’s Princess ($3.50) banked $60,000 for Ken Ramsey and The Estate of Sarah Ramsey.