Road to Victory takes Alywow in season debut

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The aptly named Road to Victory ($4.40) remained unbeaten with an impressive come-from-behind score in Saturday’s $100,000 Alywow Stakes on the Woodbine Oaks undercard.

Road to Victory’s two Mark Casse-trained stablemates, Closer Still and Sly Beauty, ran one-two through the turn in the 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint. After saving ground in sixth, Road to Victory was angled wide for the drive, and then closed stoutly to prevail by 1 1/2 lengths, in a time of 1:13.88 over the firm turf.

Kentucky-based Originator finished second while three lengths clear of Magic Spell in the seven-horse field of 3-year-old fillies.

Jockey Gary Boulanger guided Road to Victory, a daughter of Quality Road, who banked $60,000 for owners Gary Barber and John Oxley, in her first start of the year.

“She’s a pretty amazing filly,” Boulanger said. “I’m sure she’ll be going to Saratoga, or something. She belongs there. She’s a very special filly. She’s acting better this year than she did last year. [Assistant trainer David Adams] said to just be confident, and don’t get in a hurry. There’s plenty of speed, and they’ll come back to you. When I called on her, she just surged underneath me.”