Hazelbrook ($54.10) notches upset in Hendrie Stakes
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hazelbrook pulled off a 26-1 upset in Sunday’s Grade 3 Hendrie on the Woodbine Oaks undercard, which was the first stakes win for herself and jockey Jason Hoyte.
New York shipper Artie’s Princess set a pressured pace in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, while Hazelbrook bided her time about five lengths off the lead on the backstretch.
Hazelbrook began to mount a wide bid on the turn and then rallied in unison with Amalfi Coast through the stretch. Amalfi Coast bumped with favored Boardoom in midstretch before getting outfinished by Hazelbrook, who prevailed by a neck in a time of 1:15.68.
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La Libertee wound up third and was followed by Boardroom, Artie’s Princess, Dynasty of Her Own, and Lorena.
Hazelbrook also won her season opener in a conditioned allowance for trainer Lorne Richards. Hoyte said he has a longstanding relationship with the 4-year-old daughter of Bayern.
“I’ve been getting on her from when she was a 2-year-old,” Hoyte recalled. “I was galloping for Lorne at that time. She’s a very smart horse. She’s been improving with every start. She really ran her heart out today. She was really nice today.”
Hazelbrook returned $54.10 and earned $90,000 of the $156,900 purse for True North Stable.