Les Reys tops West Point, Clement exacta in Ontario Fashion

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – West Point Thoroughbreds and trainer Miguel Clement ran one-two in Saturday’s $150,600 Ontario Fashion at Woodbine when Les Reys outran the favored Gal in a Rush to win the Grade 3 stakes in her synthetic track debut.

Rafael Hernandez planted Les Reys behind the leaders along the inside in the six-furlong sprint while Gal in a Rush bided her time at the rear of the eight-horse field.

Les Reys awaited room at the quarter-pole and then split the dueling leaders Biles and Girl of My Dreams early in the stretch to take the lead. Gal in a Rush rallied stoutly on the outside to come up three-quarters of length short of Les Reys, who won in a time of 1:10.42.

Girl of My Dreams faded to third and was followed by Golden Canary, A Little Frisky, Uphill Dance, Biles, and Metaphysical.

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Hernandez said he got a call for Clement regarding instructions for the French import Les Reys, who paid $10.30.

“He told me to get a good break and try to get her covered up, and at the top of the lane, try to find a way out,” Hernandez said. “I had her covered up all they way. We had a good trip. I held my position, split horses, and she did the rest.

Les Reys earned $90,000 for West Point and partners Peter Leidel and Winters Equine.

Shotgun Wedding lands Begg first stakes in Ontario Damsel

Trainer Jamie Begg recorded his first Woodbine stakes win in Saturday’s $127,500 Ontario Damsel with Shotgun Wedding under a shrewd ride from Keveh Nicholls.

Woodbine Oaks winner No Time led the way in the 1 1/16-mile route for 3-year-old fillies with Souper Zonda in close proximity. Favored Will Then stalked three-wide in third and Shotgun Wedding saved ground in fifth down the backstretch.

Shotgun Wedding and Will Then joined No Time on the lead on the far turn. Shotgun Wedding assumed command entering in the stretch en route to a three-quarter-length score, in a time of 1:44.23.

Tiz Her Money rallied wide to edge out stablemate No Time for third. Cue the Duckboats, Salt, Will Then, Madam Obey, and Souper Zonda completed the order of finish.

“She relaxed really good for me,” Nicholls said. “I was wanting to get her to the outside. She loves to be on the outside. Once I got down the back approaching the three-eighths pole, I saw a nice gap and she just rolled up there nicely and went on with it. She idled a little bit once she hit the lead, but once she heard them coming back, she kicked on again.”

Shotgun Wedding ($16.60) earned $75,000 in her first stakes success for the partnership of Windways Farm, Begg Racing, and Upland Falts Stable.

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