Woodbine Mohawk Park: Ramona Hill sparkles in Elegantimage blowout

It was expected to be a battle between Hambletonian winner Ramona Hill and Hambletonian Oaks champion Sorella, but at the end of Saturday's C$350,000 Elegantimage Stakes for sophomore trotting fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park there was a clear and dominant winner, and that was Ramona Hill. Driver Andy McCarthy guided the precocious lass to an impressive open-length triumph in a stakes record-equaling 1:51 4/5 clocking.

Both Sorella and Ramona Hill stayed out of the early fray, with strong speed coming from the outside in the form of Sister Sledge, Trina, and Warrawee Vicky. That trio pushed the first quarter to 27 seconds flat, with Warrawee Vicky and driver Doug McNair landing on the point. Yannick
Gingras, behind second choice Sorella, was followed early by Ramona Hill, but Gingras made a quick burst approaching the half to gain control for Sorella, stopping the timer in 55 1/5 at that point. McCarthy wasn’t as anxious as Gingras to move, and instead of following right behind that cover, waited for Gingras to clear before moving Ramona Hill.

What was rather impressive on this night was how methodically Ramona Hill charged right around Sorella, as if she was not in the same class. Ramona Hill had secured the front and was opening up on the field past three-quarters in 1:23 1/5, and Gingras and Sorella had no answer. A 28 3/5 final quarter with the plugs in completed the mile for Ramona Hill, with Sister Sledge coming on late to gain the pace spot ahead of Sorella.

"She was as good as ever tonight," said McCarthy following the race. "She never got out of second gear."

The driver noted that only once had he called on the Tony Alagna-trained filly for absolute speed this year, and that was in the Hambletonian eliminations on August 1 when she trotted a 25 4/5 final panel to circle the field.

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the field, Ramona Hill returned $3.10. The victory was the 12th in 14 career starts for Ramona Hill, who is owned by Bradley Grant, Robert LeBlanc, Crawford Farms, and In The Gym Partners.