Woodbine Mohawk Park: Miki And Minnie captures Roses Are Red final

James MacDonald found the perfect trip, and Miki And Minnie responded like the champion she is in capturing Saturday's Grade 1 C$320,000 Roses Are Red final at Woodbine Mohawk Park in a career-best 1:48 1/5 clocking.

Miki And Minnie was relaxed in the early stages as Skywalker Sea and Todd McCarthy blasted from the pole position to take control. Grit N Grace tucked in the pocket with The Last Martini getting away third. Defending champion Twin B Joe Fresh overcame the nine-hole and tucked in fourth before the opening bend.

With a 26 1/5 quarter Skywalker Sea rated the half in 54 1/5 and then got company as Twin B Joe Fresh moved first-over, followed by her stablemate Miki And Minnie. Elimination winner Louies Girl N, with Jason Bartlett, took up the chase in third-over position.

Skywalker Sea sprinted hard the third quarter, keeping the outer tier at bay, hitting three-quarters in 1:21 1/5 and leading into the stretch. Miki And Minnie soared wide off her stablemate's cover and quickly disposed of the leader, but she had to fend off Louies Girl N on her right flank and then The Last Martini to her inside. Doug McNair had knifed perfectly behind the winner in early stretch and had a clear shot to her inside, but Miki And Minnie, a 4-year-old by Always B Miki, responded to urging and bravely finished out the mile on top. The Last Martini was second with Louies Girl N third.

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It was the third straight victory for trainer Chris Ryder in this race, having captured it in the past two years with Twin B Joe Fresh. As the 8-5 betting favorite Miki And Minnie returned $5.30 to win.

"When you have great horses, they find good trips on their own," said MacDonald following the victory.

Miki And Minnie is owned and was bred by Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo and Lawrence Minowitz.