Uchenna rallies from last, wins Belle Mahone
ETOBICOKE, Ontario — The favored Uchenna ($5.70) came on strongly from last under Patrick Husbands to take the $105,600 Belle Mahone over a troubled Hot Kiss at Woodbine Monday.
Josdesanimaux set a lively pace in the 1 1/16-mile overnight stakes, and was stalked by a host of runners, including Hot Kiss. Uchenna commenced a wide rally on the far turn, while Hot Kiss lacked room along the inside, and then hit the front around the eighth-pole en route to a 1 3/4-length tally, in a final time of 1:43.74
“By the five-eighths pole, I had a lot of horse,” Husbands said. “Four furlongs out, I had plenty of horse. At the three-eighths pole, I was just waiting to make my move. When we swung for home, I chirped at her, and she just exploded. She has a serious turn of foot.”
Uchenna, a Mark Casse-trained daughter of Fastnet Rock, earned $60,000 for owner Gary Barber.
Whimsicality finished two lengths behind Hot Kiss in third. She was followed by Reserved, Internal Bourbon, and Josdesanimaux.