Woodbine Mohawk Park: Drawn Impression romps in Casual Breeze Stakes

Drawn Impression plowed from mid-pack and lifted away from her peers to score in the aptly-named C$140,000 Casual Breeze at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday night (Aug. 23).

Stablemate Emoji Hanover hustled out of post 10 to grab the lead from R Liza by a 27 3/5 first quarter while driver Louis-Philippe Roy settled Drawn Impression out of post one into sixth. As Emoji Hanover slowed the tempo to a 57 second half, Roy sent Drawn Impression uncovered out of sixth and then seized the lead entering the final turn. She strode by three-quarters in 1:25 2/5 and widened her lead down the stretch under a reclined hand drive to float over the finish, winning by 6 1/4 lengths. Emoji Hanover held off R Liza, who was zipping up the inside, to take second while R Liza's rally helped her stave off Cool Ma Belle as she wove through traffic, but settled for fourth.

"I didn't find any good cover to follow once we all settled into the first turn, so I rushed my move," Roy said after the race. "But the filly's just so good. Luc's team had her really good, so I felt like she could overcome anything. It wasn't the ideal trip, but she was so good she could deal with it anyway. When you sit behind her, she goes so fast and you don't even realize; she has a very effortless gait. So that makes me think she might be very special, even more than she shows now."

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Luc Blais trains Drawn Impression, a Muscle Hill filly out of a Casual Breeze champion in Emoticon Hanover, for owner-breeder Determination. She won her first race of the season from her fifth start and notched her fifth victory from 11 starts in her career, good for C$429,844.

"She's always been impressive," Roy also said. "She started a little later than every other filly, which was the plan with Luc because most of her stakes are later in the season and he wants to keep her sharp. In the short time she's been racing, I felt like she didn't have much luck. Tonight, she was able to show her talent."

Off as the even-money favorite, Drawn Impression returned $4.30 to win.

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--