Gamble's Ghost rallies for Ontario Matron triumph

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Gamble’s Ghost, the favored 124-pound highweight, mounted a furious rally to notch her fifth Grade 3 stakes in Sunday’s $144,400 Ontario Matron at Woodbine.

Gamble’s Ghost was reserved in eighth in the early going of the 1 1/16-mile route, as My Arch Enemy set moderate fractions, with Malibu Bonnie pressing her.

Gamble’s Ghost began to mount a wide charge exiting the far turn, as Let It Ride Mom hit the front from a stalking position. Gamble’s Ghost swept by the field in the stretch, and nailed Let It Ride Mom on the wire, scoring by a neck, in a time of 1:44.88.

My Arch Enemy faded to third, and Malibu Bonnie weakened to fourth in the nine-horse field.

Eurico Da Silva rode the Ghostzapper mare Gamble’s Ghost for trainer Josie Carroll.

“I think she’s just getting better and better,” said Carroll, who won last year’s Matron with Ami’s Mesa. “She loves to run. She loves to chase horses. I was a little concerned, because there was a nice horse on the lead who looked like she was going to win it. This mare, when she sees a horse in front of her, she’s just going to catch it. That’s what I said to Eurico: Don’t try and change her style. I know they’re probably going to back the pace up, but you can’t change her. She likes to make that one run.”

Gamble’s Ghost paid $6.50, and earned $90,000 for owner Ivan Dalos.