Bear's Pride pulls surprise in Victoriana

ETOBICOKE Ontario—Bear’s Pride collared the favored Silent Treat in the final strides to win her first stakes in the $126,600 Victoriana on Saturday at Woodbine.

Silent Treat set rapid, wind-aided fractions in the 1 1/16-mile turf route, with Scotty’s Model in close proximity. Bear’s Pride bided her time while racing about nine lengths off the lead on the backstretch, and then rallied between rivals in the stretch en route to a neck win, in 1:40.22 over the firm ground.

Sweater Weather rallied for third, and Lynnessa was a troubled fourth after trailing the 12-horse field of Ontario-sired females on the turn.

Patrick Husbands rode Bear’s Pride for trainer Reade Baker, who won last Tuesday’s Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie with Breaking Lucky.

“She left there running, and I got a nice position,” said Husbands. “About seven furlongs out, they were going too fast, so I just left her alone. By the time I got to the bottom of the lane, they all came back to me, so I just had to weave my way through to get the job done.”

Bear’s Pride ($20.70) earned $75,000 for owner-breeder Bear Stable, which raced her sire, Kentucky Bear.