Hooh Why holds on in La Lorgnette

ETOBICOKE, Ontario--Hooh Why ($3.80) held off a closing 6-1 shot Tasty Temptation to take the $168,600 La Lorgnette Stakes at Woodbine Sunday.

Hooh Why, who captured the Grade 1 Ashland in April and was scratched from Friday's Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico in favor of the La Lorgnette, banked $90,000 for the partnership of Mark Hoffman and Derby Daze Farm.

Hooh Why raced well back in second on the backstretch, as Woodsmoke set fast fractions in the 1 1/16-mile event. Hooh Why and Milwaukee Appeal both closed in on the tiring leader on the turn, and Hooh Why hit the front inside the quarter pole before taking control. Tasty Temptation mounted a good wide rally, but Hooh Why prevailed by a half-length in 1:45.46.

Milwaukee Appeal finished third in the nine-horse field of 3-year-old fillies.

Emile Ramsammy, who rode Hooh Why for trainer Ken Hoffman, said the strong west wind made things difficult for all the competitors.

"The conditions were very challenging," said Ramsammy. "It really takes the true run out of a nice horse, but she handled it well."