Officer Cherrie upsets heavy favorite

Officer Cherrie ($28.20) overhauled 1-5 favorite Dancing Allstar in the final strides to take Saturday's $130,900 Ontario Debutante Stakes at Woodbine.

After stumbling at the break, Poco Uno set the early pace in the six-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies. She was overtaken midway on the turn by Dancing Allstar, who opened up a clear lead early in the stretch, after a half in 45.03 seconds.

Officer Cherrie began to mount her rally from the back of the pack at the quarter pole, and she closed strongly in the final furlong to win by a half-length, in a time of 1:10.45. Dancing Allstar was 4 1/4 lengths ahead of the third-place finisher, Simple Sister.

In her stakes debut, Officer Cherrie banked $75,000 for owner Charles LaLoggia. Patrick Husbands rode her for trainer Mark Casse.

"Since she's come to Woodbine, she's always shown that she's a good horse," said Husbands, who has won 15 stakes at the meeting. "She got carried wide in her first start, and she showed in her last two races that she's a champion. She's getting better and better every day."