Inflexibility edges Ghostly Presence in Carotene Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The favored New York invader Inflexibility overcame a troubled trip to take the $125,000 Carotene Stakes over Ghostly Presence at Woodbine on Sunday.

Inflexibility ($3.80) missed the break by about three lengths after getting bumped by Ghostly Presence. Inflexibility awaited room in a stalking position from midway on the turn until midstretch, where Luis Conteras angled her outside the leaders.

Ghostly Presence took control from pacemaker Mythical Mission around the eighth pole, before Inflexibility came flying late to prevail by a neck, in a time of 1:49 for the nine furlongs on firm turf.

Mythical Mission finished 2 1/2 lengths in arrears in third. Silent Sonet, the 2-1 second choice, was a flat fourth in the eight-horse field of Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

“(Ghostly Presence) came to the outside (at the break),” Contreras said. “I was a little bit worried. After that, I didn’t want my filly to make a middle move.

"I wanted to get to the outside. Once I was clear, I just put her to the outside, and she gave me everything.”

A daughter of Scat Daddy, the Chad Brown-trained Inflexibility banked $75,000 for the partnership of Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence.