Mullins Beach sails home in La Voyageuse

Fair Grounds shipper Mullins Beach ($15.90) broke on top and led virtually all the way in a convincing score in the $100,800 La Voyageuse Stakes, Woodbine's opening-day feature Saturday.

Patrick Husbands rode Mullins Beach, who shrugged off two early challengers during an opening quarter-mile in a wind-assisted 22.24 seconds. She began to draw away in the final furlong, and prevailed by 3 3/4 lengths in a time of 58.59 for the five furlongs. Sans Sousi nosed out favored High Mist for second in the seven-horse field of Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

"I was only a pilot," said Husbands. "I didn't really want to be where I was, but she broke so sharp. She ran a big race."

Mullins Beach, trained by Malcolm Pierce for Melnyk Racing Stable, earned $60,000 in her first stakes win.