Uchenna beats Strut the Course in Ontario Matron

ETOBICOKE, Ontario—Uchenna rallied inside under a fine ride from Alan Garcia to notch her first Woodbine stakes in Saturday’s Grade 3 Ontario Matron, upsetting champion Strut the Course in the process.

Skylander Girl set lively fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route while being stalked by Midnight Ballet, as Uchenna bided her time in fifth on the backstretch.

Uchenna commenced her rally at the quarter pole, and she got home on top by three-quarters of a length over a wide-closing Strut the Course, in 1:43.74.

Skylander Girl finished a close third after weakening in the last sixteenth. She was followed by Midnight Ballet, Checkered Past, and Copper Kitten. Sweater Weather was scratched.

Uchenna ($11) earned $90,000 of the $160,200 purse for Triton Racing and trainer Roger Attfield.

“She was always traveling well,” Attfield said. “I was very pleased with where she was sitting. I knew that she’d stay on.”