Artilena has first stakes win in Ontario Lassie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Trainer Catherine Day Phillips won the $125,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes for the second year in a row Sunday at Woodbine with a determined Artilena.

Artilena ($19.80) was a clear second most of the way, while Scat’s Rose set moderate fractions in the 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies.

Artilena assumed command early in the stretch, and then held off the favored Western Curl and Hastalavistababy to prevail by a head over the latter. Western Curl beat out the other Day Phillips charge, Notice Me, for third in the eight-horse field of Ontario-breds.

Day Phillips, who took the 2017 Lassie with this year’s Woodbine Oaks winner Dixie Moon, was ecstatic with the ride that Artilena got.

“She relaxed beautifully,” Day Phillips said. “Emma [Wilson] breezed her the other day, and really enjoyed her. They got along well together, and she had her in a great spot today, and rode a great race. We’ve always really liked her.”

Artilena, a daughter of Artie Schiller, earned $75,000 in her first stakes success for the partnership of Anderson Farms Ontario, Kingfield Racing Stable, George Ledson and Braconcrest Inc.