Ginger Brew captures Woodbine Oaks

By RON GIERKINK

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Ginger Brew ($3.20) overcame some bumping early in the stretch before pulling away for an easy victory in Sundays $502,800 Woodbine Oaks.

Ginger Brew bided her time in 10th on the first turn of the nine-furlong test for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, and she made up ground on the backstetch under Javier Castellano.

Ginger Brew loomed into contention on the far turn and then came between two Josie Carroll-trained runners, Authenticat and Victory Romance, at the eighth pole en route to a six-length win. Victory Romance outran Authenicat for second while Gloriously faded to ninth in the 12-horse field after setting fractions of :23.99 and :48.

Emile Ramsammy, aboard Victory Romance, claimed foul on the Ginger Brew for interference in the stretch, but the result stood.

Shes a special filly, Castellano said. You can do what you want with her. I rode her with a lot of confidence, and it worked out good. She settled perfectly, and she kicked in very strongly at the end. She improved a lot today.

Ginger Brew covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.40 and banked $300,000 for Stronach Stable. Trained by Brian Lynch, she appears to have a serious shot at sweeping the Canadian Triple Tiara, a series for 3-year-old fillies that also includes the June 29 Bison City Stakes on Polytrack and July 26 Wonder Where Stakes on turf.

Being a Canadian-bred, this is the race we had picked out for her all year, Lynch said. She rose to the occasion.

In other races Sunday, New York invader Passion ($5.30) blew away the field in the $102,800 Alywow Stakes, winning the six and a half furlong turf sprint in a quick 1:14.39 under Castellano.

After being steadied heading into the turn, Passion stalked a speed duel and then took control in mid-stretch before drawing away for a 5 ¼- length tally over Lickety Lemon. Clear the Ice finished third in the 12-horse field of 3-year-old fillies.

She broke a little slow, but I didnt want to rush her, said Castellano. I sat behind the (leaders), and she responded very well.

Passion, trained by Todd Pletcher, earned $60,000 for the partnership of Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith.

Secret Getaway ($17.60), based at Arlington with trainer Michael Stidham, captured his first stakes in the $150,400 Victoria Park.

Emma Wilson rode Secret Getaway, who mowed down front-running Catch Air in deep stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length while completing nine furlongs in a time of 1:51.11.

Discreet Commander was third, and the even-money favorite, Bonanza, wound up fourth in the six-horse field of 3-year-olds.