Hooh Why proves best of tough Seaway bunch

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Hooh Why outran a small but select group of fillies and mares Saturday at Woodbine in the seven-furlong, $161,500 Seaway Stakes.
Hooh Why, the winner of last year’s Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland, battled up front with favored Tribal Belle, last year’s champion female sprinter in Canada, who set a wind-aided opening quarter of 22.86. Hooh Why got the half-mile split in 44.81, and then opened up a clear lead in the stretch en route to a 1 3/4-length tally in 1:23.51. She paid $15.50.
Indian Apple Is rallied wide from well back to nail U.S. shipper Mother Russia on the wire for second, while Tribal Belle faded to fourth in the five-horse field.
Emile Ramsammy rode Hooh Why, who was making her first start for trainer Don MacRae in the Grade 3 event.
“She’s a classy filly,” said MacRae. “She runs everywhere. It doesn’t matter where she goes, she runs, and she showed it today.”
Hooh Why collected $90,000 for a partnership that is headed by Mark Hoffman.