Willow Bunch takes Jammed Lovely in the slop

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Willow Bunch ($4.40) loved the sloppy going and posted an easy victory in the $171,300 Jammed Lovely Stakes, a seven-furlong dash for Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine Sunday.

Willow Bunch pressed the pace while three-wide under Patrick Husbands, and took control from Miss Crissy at the quarter pole, after fractions of 22.46 and :45.76. She drew off in the stretch, and won by five and three-quarter lengths over a closing Kabul, who ended a half-length in front of third-place finisher Deputy Cures Blues. The final time was 1:25.02.

"I thought she'd be tough if she made the lead," said Josie Carroll, who trains Willow Bunch. "A lot of horses weren't handling the (deep track), but when I saw her getting a hold of it, I thought she's run a big race."

Willow Bunch banked $102,780 for owners Jim and Alice Sapara.

* Favorites Open Concert and Byzantine won the other two stakes on the card, the Labeeb and River Memories, which were both taken off the grass and run at a mile and 70 yards in the slop.

Open Concert ($3.70) led throughout the $114,000 Labeeb with Emile Ramsammy aboard. It was the sixth win in six wet-track starts for Open Concert, who is trained by Abraham Katryan.

Byzantine rallied from last to take the $114,000 River Memories, for fillies and mares, by four lengths for the second straight year under Jono Jones. She is trained by Bruce Pollock.