Kentucky shipper Majestic d'Oro gets winning trip in Alywow Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - With the addition of Lasix, which she hadn't used in her prior two starts, Kentucky shipper Majestic d’Oro parlayed an ideal trip into a comfortable score under Rafael Hernandez in Saturday’s $102,400 Alywow Stakes at Woodbine.

Marie MacKay shook loose on the lead in the 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint and was stalked by four rivals, including Majestic d’Oro and the four-wide favorite, Loyalty.

Majestic d’Oro was angled off the rail late on the turn and then hit the front early in the stretch before opening up a clear lead. She coasted home on top by 1 1/4 lengths over a closing Gal in a Rush, in a posted final time of 1:13.74 over the firm ground.

Breathing Fire finished third in the nine-horse field of 3-year-old fillies. She was followed by Howdyoumakeurmoney, Marie MacKay, Loyalty, Lemieux, Adversity, and From Above. Diabolic was scratched.

Hernandez said he spoke to winning trainer Brendan Walsh by phone in the paddock prior to the race.

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“He said just to ride her like you own her, and that’s it,” Hernandez recalled. “Last time at Churchill, she ran five-eighths, so I knew she would break with some speed. That was my plan - just let the speed go, sit behind them and put her in the clear down the lane. Everything worked well.”

Majestic d’Oro returned $13.40 to win. The Kentucky-bred by the late Speightster earned $60,000 for owner Maribeth Sandford, who bred her in partnership with Chuck Sandford.