Strike Softly takes Ontario Damsel

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Strike Softly split horses at the sixteenth pole en route to her first stakes victory in Sunday's $152,000 Ontario Damsel at Woodbine.

Strike Softly saved ground in a stalking position under Todd Kabel in the six and a half-furlong turf dash. She found her best stride at the eighth pole, and prevailed by a length over front-running A Touch of Glory, the 2-1 favorite.

Our Madison closed belatedly for third in the 10-horse field of Ontario-foaled 3-year-old fillies. The final time was 1:15.29 seconds.

Strike Softly was coming off a dreadful performance as the favorite in the Woodbine Oaks.

"She wasn't 100 percent in the Oaks," said Kabel. "She's very professional when she's on her game, but she definitely didn't show up in the Oaks. She brought her "A" game today. (The leaders) sprinted away turning for home, and I was asking her to run. All of a sudden, she found another gear and kicked on."

Strike Softly returned $11.70 in her grass debut, earning $90,000 for Sam-Son Farm and trainer Mark Frostad.