Fairy Hill breaks through in Lady Angela

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Fairy Hill, a $25,000 claim last fall by owner Bruno Schickedanz, won her first stakes under Jeffrey Alderson in Friday’s $100,000 Lady Angela at Woodbine.

Turning back off a front-running fourth in the Woodbine Oaks, Fairy Hill assumed a stalking position between rivals in the seven-furlong sprint for Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies. She hit the front in midstretch, and prevailed by a neck over She’s Got Fire, as pacesetter Zestina faded to third. The favored Rosemere finished a flat fifth after racing wide throughout.

A daughter of Sligo Bay, Fairy Hill ($8.60) earned $60,000. She wintered at Oaklawn with trainer Norm McKnight, who said he opted for the Lady Angela over Sunday’s $225,000 Bison City Stakes going 1 1/16 miles.

“We liked this spot for her,” McKnight said. “I preferred this shorter distance, as opposed to the route. A lot of credit has to go to Bruno. He picked the filly out last year to claim. I kind of vetoed her, but he convinced me to go forward with it. It all turned out well.”