Calling Rhy Rhy's turf debut brings victory in Ontario Damsel

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Calling Rhy Rhy won her first stakes with determination in her turf debut Saturday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Ontario Damsel.

After breaking alertly, Calling Rhy Rhy battled up front with the longshot maiden Northern Fern through honest fractions in the one-mile route. Calling Rhy Rhy assumed command early in the stretch, and then held off a host of challengers to prevail by three-quarters of a length over Swoop and Strike, in a time of 1:35.04.

Miss Metropolitan rallied for third, and Sparkles’ Girl flattened out to fourth after looming bold in the drive. Dublin Diva finished fifth in the eight-horse field of Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Alan Garcia rode Calling Rhy Rhy, a daughter of top turf sire City Zip, for trainer Roger Attfield.

“She’s a pretty nice filly,” Garcia said. “She showed last time that she can come from behind. I know she showed speed before, so today in post 1, if she broke good, I was gone. If not, I could sit. Everything went perfect. She was nice and relaxed. Turning for home, she gave me everything she had.”

Calling Rhy Rhy returned $6.80 as the favorite, and earned $90,000 for owner/breeder Robert Harvey.