Don't Leave Me rallies in stretch to win Ontario Colleen

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Don’t Leave Me left them in her wake Saturday at Woodbine in the $159,700 Ontario Colleen, winning the Grade 3 stakes decisively under Eurico Da Silva.

Don’t Leave Me ($8.80) raced in midpack in the one-mile turf route as London Tower set moderate fractions with Green Doctor in close proximity.

Don’t Leave Me commenced a rally early in the stretch and split rivals nearing the eighth pole before drawing off for a 2 1/2-length tally in 1:35.70 over the firm ground.

London Tower finished a clear second, and City Wells rallied belatedly for third in the nine-horse field of 3-year-old fillies. Mississippi Delta, the 2-1 favorite, walked away in good order after being eased in the stretch.

Don’t Leave Me earned $90,000 for Pin Oak Stable and trainer Malcolm Pierce, who gave the homebred a freshening after her troubled run June 13 in the Grade 3 Regret at Churchill.

“We gave her plenty of time after the race at Churchill and aimed her for this race,” Pierce said. “It looks like it was the right move. We just have to figure out where to go next.”