Earhart flies early, pulls away late for easy Whimsical score
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Heavily-favored Earhart remained unbeaten at Woodbine in Saturday’s Grade 3 Whimsical, scoring easily in a rapid 1:08.84 seconds for the six furlongs on Tapeta.
Earhart broke alertly from the one-hole under Rafael Hernandez and went straight to the front, setting an honest pace while being tracked by three of her four rivals.
Earhart kicked away at the head of the stretch, coasting home on top by 5 1/2 lengths over the American shipper Gal in a Rush. Ms. Tart wound up third and was followed by Star Candy and Ticker Tape Home.
Trained by Josie Caroll, Earhart was coming off her only loss Jan. 24 in the one-mile Likely Exchange Stakes at Turfway, in which she was softened up in a speed duel in her lone race without Lasix.
“Josie told me just to make sure that she breaks good and be patient with her and make sure the pace is good,” Hernandez said. “She’s easy to ride. She does everything well.”
Earhart ($2.60) earned $90,000 of the $150,900 purse for owner LNJ Foxwoods, who also co-bred the 4-year-old daughter of Siyouni in France. Last fall at Woodbine, she beat maidens with an 86 Beyer Speed Figure and then doubled up in another seven-furlong Tapeta tilt while earning a big 96 Beyer.
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