Dad subs for injured jockey son as Fashionably Fab triumphs in Ontario Matron

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Fashionably Fab prevailed in an emotional victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Ontario Matron at Woodbine, with David Moran subbing for his injured son Pietro on the multiple stakes winner.

Solo Album was gunned to the lead and set a quick pace before tiring in the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile event for fillies and mares. Fashionably Fab saved ground most of the way in mid-pack and commenced her rally around the quarter pole.

Fashionably Fab split rivals to assume command early in the stretch and then held off a closing bid from reigning Canadian champion 3-year-old filly Elysian Field to win by a length, in a time of 1:43.84.

Pietro Moran rode Fashionably Fab to victory in the Grade 3 Belle Mahone June 1, after which she ran third in the Grade 3 Trillium and fourth in the Grade 2 Canadian. The 18-year-old apprentice fractured a vertebrae in a spill at Fort Erie on Tuesday and is out indefinitely. Trainer Kevin Attard gave the call to David Moran Saturday morning.

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“I was riding for Pietro - he was out there with me,” Moran said. “He called me before the race, told me exactly how to ride her. It was basically him riding the horse. I just steered her around. She was amazing. She traveled nice - kicked very strong at the head of the lane. Pietro was behind her. I’m just keeping her warm for him - that’s all.”

Fashionably Fab ($15.80) collected $108,000 of the $180,000 purse for Terra Racing Stable. It was the Silent Name filly’s seventh stakes tally from 15 starts.

*** Reigning Canadian champion male sprinter Patches O’Houlihan ($3.60) won his third stakes in a row in the final stakes on Saturday’s Woodbine Mile card, the Grade 3, $169,800 Vigil.

With Sofia Vives riding for owner Frank DiGiulio Jr. and trainer Robert Tiller, Patches O’Houlihan won in front-running fashion by 1 3/4 lengths over a closing Remuda. He covered the six furlongs in 1:08.88.

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