Millie Girl in Sovereign Award picture after Maple Leaf triumph

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Millie Girl staked her claim for the Sovereign Award as Canadian champion older female on the main track with an impressive score in Saturday’s Grade 3 Maple Leaf, while giving jockey Rafael Hernandez his fourth win on the Woodbine card.

Millie Girl raced about 10 lengths off pacesetter Inventing on the outside in the 1 1/4-mile event. She began to mount a five-wide rally at the three-eighths pole and then assumed command from Angelou in midstretch before drawing clear for a two-length tally, in a time of 2:03.53.

The hot 3-year-old filly Solo Album finished second in her first try against older stakes opposition, while Angelou checked in third in the 12-horse field. Batyah was scratched.

“It was a big field, so I just tried to keep her (in the) clear,” Hernandez said. “Everything worked out good. Turning for home, I know she always gives me everything. She’s all heart.”

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Rather than turn her back to seven furlongs in Saturday’s Grade 2 Bessarabian, trainer Catherine Day Phillips opted to stretch Millie Girl out in the Maple Leaf after the daughter of Hard Spun won the Grade 3 Ontario Matron going 1 1/16 miles in her previous outing.

“She’s such a special filly,” Day Phillips said. “She’s a little quirky. She behaved better today in the winner’s circle, but then she had enough. She’s very strong-willed. The plan is to race her next season.”

Millie Girl ($4.50) banked $108,000 of the $171,800 purse for the partnership of Kingfield Racing Stable, Braconcrest Inc. and Apricot Valley Thoroughbreds.

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