Gal in a Rush ships in to win Hendrie in first synthetic try

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – New York shipper Gal in a Rush unleashed a powerful stretch run under Kazushi Kimura to land her synthetic track debut in Saturday's Grade 3 Hendrie at Woodbine.

Gal in a Rush was 3-1 throughout most of betting before drifting up to 6-1 when the 6 1/2-furlong sprint was running. She trailed about six lengths off the lead on the turn before mounting a wide rally from inside the quarter pole and then collared the leaders in the final sixteenth in a 1 1/4-length score, in a time of 1:15.54.

Owen’s Tour Guide set a quick pace, with favored Play the Music in close proximity, and held on for second over that rival, who was putting her two-race win streak in graded stakes on the line. Awesome Treat wound up fourth in a field reduced to nine after three scratches.

“She’s the type who loves to take it easy for the first part, then finish up strong,” Kimura said. “She just really responds so well.”

Gal in a Rush ($15.10) earned $81,000 of the $140,900 purse in her first stakes win for the partnership of West Point Thoroughbreds, Chris Larsen, and Titletown Racing Stables.

Christophe Clement trains the 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare, who was coming off a wide fourth in the Grade 2 Intercontinental at her Saratoga base.

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