Raiding Party surges past Dixie Law late in Ontario Damsel Stakes
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Kentucky shipper Raiding Party was bet down to favoritism late and justified it with a determined victory over Dixie Law in Saturday’s $133,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes at Woodbine.
Cool Times set a rapid pace on a large lead in the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-old fillies while Dixie Law raced in second, with Raiding Party farther back in third under Ryan Munger.
Dixie Law loomed into contention on the far turn, where she was joined on her outside by Raiding Party. Raiding Party went best in the stretch and scored by three-quarters of a length, in a time of 1:42.52.
Cool Times held on for third ahead of Hot Mash, Ontology, and Bold Time.
Raiding Party ($4.50) had made all five of her previous starts on the grass, finishing sixth most recently in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, after which she posted three works over Turfway’s Tapeta. Munger said he spoke to trainer Brendan Walsh by phone regarding how to ride the Irish-bred daughter of Sioux Nation.
“The instructions were pretty simple,” Munger said. “She’s uncomplicated and she’ll tell you where she’s happy. And that’s what she did. I watched all her replays and she’s been running with some good fillies - not having the smoothest of trips as well.
“So today, I really thought it was between myself and (Dixie Law). It proved to be a match race, but she got the job done. I ended up behind Dixie Law, which was the perfect spot in the race. I said I wasn’t going to worry about the front horse. I was just going to follow Dixie Law around, and that’s what I did. At the top of the lane, I said let’s go on by and she did that. It was a good win.”
Raiding Party earned $75,000 in her first stakes success for owners Larry Rodgers, Coast Racing, and Fick Farms.
*** Crystal Visions ($15.90) won her first stakes in Saturday’s $150,000 Silver Creek for older Ontario-bred females, over pacesetter Dazzling Move and Hurricane Clair.
Crystal Visions covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.10 under Keveh Nicholls. She banked $90,000 for the partnership of trainer Stuart Simon and Brent McLellan.
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