Fort Erie: Proud of My Roots surges late in Rainbow Connection

Proud of My Roots, coming off a fourth-place finish for a $20,000 claiming price at Woodbine, surged through the stretch under jockey Jesse Campbell for a half-length victory in Tuesday’s $75,000 Rainbow Connection Stakes, a five-furlong turf race for Ontario-sired fillies and mares at Fort Erie.

“She broke very sharp; I just couldn’t make the lead,” Campbell said. “So I just went to Plan B quick and let her find her own way around there, and it worked.

“In the middle of the turn, when I started asking her for a little run, she came right up underneath me and finished very strong.”

Trained by Paul Attard for Ballycroy Training Centre, Proud of My Roots had her late run set up by a race-long duel between Tequilamockingbird, Dance to the Moon, and Crysta’s Court.

Tequilamockingbird finally won that battle, but could not fend off the winner. Crysta’s Court slipped up to take third money away from Dance to the Moon, who had appeared to check in deep stretch.

The stewards saw things the same way and put up the inquiry sign. Luis Contreras, aboard the 6-5 favorite Dance to the Moon, claimed foul against Eurico Rosa da Silva and Tequilamockingbird.

After reviewing the evidence, the stewards placed Tequilamockingbird fourth, with Crysta’s Court elevated to second and Dance to the Moon to third.

Careless Word, Lucky Melissa, and Rue to Jean completed the order of finish. Tahnee was scratched.

Proud of My Roots paid $30 and keyed $2 payoffs of $252.90 for the exacta and $1,009.20 for the trifecta. The $1 superfecta paid $1,003.10.