Stifling wins My Dear Stakes by disqualification

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Stifling ($40.10) graduated by disqualification in Saturday’s $104,600 My Dear Stakes after finishing second behind My Gal Betty in the 5 1/2-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies at Woodbine.

Stifling tracked pacesetter Sav through moderate fractions and then took control in midstretch as My Gal Betty and Tiz Breathtaking loomed into serious contention. My Gal Betty pushed Tiz Breathtaking out to make some room nearing the sixteenth pole and then got up to prevail by a head in 1:04.84.

Tiz Breathtaking finished another head back in third. She was followed by lukewarm favorite Entirely, Sav, Questionofteday, and Subsidiary.

The rider on Tiz Breathtaking, Luis Contreras, claimed foul on jockey Rafael Hernandez and My Gal Betty, who was eventually placed third by the stewards.

Pedro Morales got a leg up from trainer John Bourke on Stifling, who is based at Presque Isle Downs.

“I really feel like she deserved to win,” said Morales. “She ran so hard. She broke so good. She got pressure early. Even then, she fought them off and kept running to the wire.”

A daughter of Flatter, Stifling earned $60,000 for Commonwealth New Era Racing.