Lift Up splits rivals en route to Maple Leaf victory

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The favored Maryland shipper Lift Up rallied strongly to notch her second Woodbine stakes under a patient ride from Patrick Husbands in Saturday’s Grade 3 Maple Leaf.

Lift Up trailed the nine-horse field early as stablemate Theodora B. set moderate fractions in the 1 1/4-mile Tapeta route while being pressed by Miss Mo Mentum.

Lift Up began to mount a rail rally on the far turn, and then split rivals in the stretch twice before getting up to finish 1 1/4 lengths clear of She’s the Berries, who nosed out Theodora B. for second. The final time was 2:04.23.

“From looking in the [Daily Racing Form], there was enough speed in there, and she’s the type of filly you have to get shut off from the start,” Husbands said. “She shut off, and I was just watching them guys the whole way. When you’re coming, you’ve got to come. You’ve got to try to get through the crowd. You don’t want to go around. I saved all the ground and found my way through.”

Lift Up ($5.70) is trained by Michael Dickinson, who also saddled Theodora B. Both are daughters of Ghostzapper owned by Augustin Stable.

Lift Up, who earned $75,000 of the $130,650 purse, also won the Belle Mahone Stakes here in September.