Our Madison best in Ontario Lassie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Longshot Our Madison, a $40,000 claim, won her first stakes Sunday at Woodbine in the $162,550 Ontario Lassie, a mile and a sixteenth route for Ontario-foaled 2-year-old fillies.

Our Madison ($27.10) earned $97,290 for owner Kenneth Sawatzky and trainer Red Johnson, who took her from a fourth-place finish in August. The win boosted her bankroll to $170,186.

Emma Wilson, riding without her apprentice allowance, had Our Madison in a stalking position along the inside, while Heaven?s Symphony and favored Sugar Swirl vied through moderate fractions.

Like a Gem made a wide bid exiting the far turn, as Our Madison came inside the leaders, and Our Madison hit the front at the 70-yard pole en route to a neck victory. Like a Gem edged Sugar Swirl by a neck for second in the six-horse field. The final time was 1:49.26 seconds.

Wilson said Our Madison reluctantly came up the inside in the stretch. "Sometimes, she doesn't really want to be up in there, and you have to coax her and encourage her to do the job," Wilson explained.