Brindi takes Ruling Angel in thrilling blanket finish

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – In an exciting blanket finish, Kentucky-based Brindi notched her second straight Woodbine stakes win in Saturday's $100,800 Ruling Angel for 3-year-old fillies.

Brindi pressed pacesetter Shotgun Wedding through moderate fractions in the seven-furlong sprint, as the favored Somethinabouther raced in third. Brindi assumed command at the top of the stretch before Shotgun Wedding reengaged her at the eighth pole. Brindi dug in late to prevail by a nose over Somethinabouther, who edged out the charging longshot Social Code for third. Shotgun Wedding weakened late to fourth in a field reduced to eight after the scratches of Madam Obey and Hibiscus.

Sofia Vives rode Brindi for trainer Kelsey Danner. Vives was also aboard when the Irish-bred won the April 26 Star Shoot Stakes going three-quarters here on opening day of the meet.

“It was a great trip,” Vives said. “Last time, she had dueled the whole way and she still really dug in. Today, I thought seven [furlongs], if she can get a breather, she should be tough to fight on. She got headed at the eighth pole and dug in with the horse inside and to the outside of her. She never quit. She’s pretty gutsy. It was pretty cool to see her come back on.”

By the popular European sprint sire No Nay Never, Brindi paid $8.60 and earned $60,000 for owner Robert Evans.

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