Mullins Beach upsets Ontario Damsel

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mullins Beach ($8.40) upset the heavily favored Woodsmoke on Sunday at Woodbine in the $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes.

Woodsmoke set moderate fractions of 22.88 seconds and 45.53 in the 6 1/2-furlong turf dash. Mullins Beach stalked in second around the turn, and she joined Woodsmoke on the lead at the three-sixteenths pole.

Mullins Beach began to draw off with an eighth of a mile left, and she coasted home on top by 3 1/2 lengths, in a final time of 1:14.97. Woodsmoke nosed out How Far Is Heaven for third in the five-horse field of Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies.

Eurico Rosa Da Silva rode Mullins Beach for trainer Malcolm Pierce.

"She broke very sharp, but I let [Woodsmoke] go to the lead, said Da Silva. "My filly was really relaxed, and I had tons of horse. When we turned for home, I slowly moved her, and she gave me everything she had."

In winning her second stakes of the year, Mullins Beach banked $90,000 for Melnyk Racing Stable.