War Painter prevails in Ashbridges Bay

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - War Painter prevailed over favored Hurricane Clair in a blanket finish in Sunday’s $100,000 Ashbridges Bay for fillies, the first of two 1 1/16-mile stakes for Ontario-sired 3-year-olds on the marathon Woodbine card.

War Painter ($10.50) parlayed a wide-stalking trip into a head score, in a time of 1:44.93. Fraser Aebly rode the daughter of Danish Dynaformer for Canuck Racing Club and trainer Kevin Attard.

“We broke well and got some pretty good position going down the backside,” Aebly said. “When we hit the head of the lane, she was running for me and then we caught the split halfway through the lane. Three jumps before the wire, she grabbed the bit again and took off.”

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War Painter trainer Attard was happy to see her put it all together after going winless in her three previous outings in stakes company. Her lone previous stakes score came in the 2023 Victorian Queen on the main turf.

“She’s danced all the dances, really, and we always thought there was more to her than she’s (shown) on the racetrack this year,” Attard said. “For her to get this victory today, obviously it was very meaningful for her, and special for us. At the eighth pole, I thought we were getting nothing. Kudos to her for digging and finding more.”

Secret Load finished third and was followed by Nikita’s Gem, Little Teddy, pacesetter Never Silent and Frac Amour.

*** No More Options ($3.80) won the $100,000 Lake Ontario for colts and geldings easily under a confident ride from Ryan Munger.

No More Options track pacesetter Jo Daddy before blowing by him at the head of the stretch en route to a 2 3/4-length tally over Junior Hot Shot, in a time of 1:44.66. Cornwall, Jo Daddy, Cooler Man and Garofoli completed the order of finish.

“He feels like he doesn’t really quicken, and then when he turns it on, he really turns it on,” Munger said. “Today was a tough test, but he passed it with flying colors.”

Zeljko Krcmar trains No More Options for his daughter, owner Mary Self. He said the son of Frac Daddy will run back on closing day of the meet on Dec. 15 in the $100,000 Steady Growth Stakes.

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