Habibi outlasts field in marathon Flaming Page

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Habibi out-stayed everybody to capture Saturday’s $101,800 Flaming Page Stakes, a 12-furlong marathon that covered one lap around Woodbine’s expansive turf course.

Habibi raced three wide in midpack under Emma Wilson until they approached the far turn, where she commenced a rally down the center of the course. She collared the favored Button Down in the final furlong and got home ahead by a length in 2:28.81 over the firm ground.

Llanarmon finished third after a wide journey, and Industrial Policy was a troubled fourth in a field reduced to nine with the scratch of Smartyfly.

Habibi, who was a Group 1 winner in New Zealand in 2013, banked $60,000 for Augustin Stable. Trainer Mark Frostad said she was a short horse when finishing up the track in her last start against the boys here in the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes.

“It probably took her a little time to get really dead fit,” Frostad said. “She was ready this time, and she ran beautifully.”