Native Bombshell comes off long layoff to win Ontario Fashion Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Native Bombshell ($8.50), returning off nearly a year-long layoff, caught Cryptic Message in deep stretch and held off Disco Barbie in the final strides Sunday to win the Grade 3, $156,800 Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine.

Making her first start since winning the Ruling Angel Stakes as a 3-year-old here last October, Native Bombshell saved ground along the rail in the early going under jockey Patrick Husbands, while Cryptic Message set early fractions of 22.00 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.41 for the opening half-mile.

Husbands swung Native Bombshell off the rail and into the four-wide path for the stretch run, while the 8-5 favorite Disco Barbie encountered traffic trouble through the turn. That traffic trouble proved to be the difference, as Native Bombshell struck the front in the final sixteenth and held off a hard-charging Disco Barbie by a neck in 1:09.48 over six furlongs on Polytrack. Cryptic Message held on for third.

“She gave me everything I asked her for,” Husbands said. “The race had a lot of speed. She relaxed well, and I was getting the perfect trip. I didn’t want the three horses in front of me to stop and get me in trouble. I was clear at the top of the lane, so I led her out, and she gave me everything.”

Native Bombshell banked the $90,000 winner’s share in her second straight stakes win and first career graded stakes victory for trainer Chad Brown and owners Michael Dubb, The Elkstone Group LLC, Bethlehem Stables LLC, and partners.