Gamble's Candy stalks and pounces in Ruling Angel Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Longshot Gamble’s Candy won the front-end battle and the war in Sunday’s $113,400 Ruling Angel Stakes at Woodbine.

The favored Sister Peacock went straight to the front in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, before Gamble’s Candy pressed her through fractions of 22.39 and 44.54 seconds. Sister Peacock began to tire at the head of the stretch, as Gamble’s Candy kicked away en route to a 1 1/4-length score in a time of 1:15.36.

Ellyb beat out another shipper, Missmizz, by a neck for second. Sister Peacock faded to trail the 11-horse field of 3-year-old fillies, finishing just behind second choice La Feve.

A homebred by Twirling Candy, Gamble’s Candy paid $24.40 in her stakes debut. Luis Contreras rode the Josie Carroll-trained winner, who banked $72,000 for owner Ivan Dalos.

“I was able to relax outside [Sister Peacock],” said Contreras, who won four races on the card, along with Saturday’s Grade 1 E.P. Taylor on Starship Jubilee. “She just traveled so well all the way around, and gave me a nice kick at the end.”