Woodbine: Mona Rose beats 'Glora'
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Mona Rose wore down 3-5 favorite Inish Glora in deep stretch to capture the Grade 3, $209,450 at Woodbine.
Eurico Rosa da Silva rode Mona Rose in the Dance Smartly, which attracted only four fillies and mares. Mona Rose stalked her three rivals throughout most of the nine-furlong turf event. Inish Glora and Strait From Texas vied for the lead during a slow opening quarter-mile in 24.94 seconds, and were joined by Classic Stamp through a half-mile in 48.17. The trio picked up the pace on the turn, getting the three-quarters in 1:11.40.
Inish Glora assumed command early in the stretch, and looked the part of a winner until the sixteenth pole, when Mona Rose edged by her to prevail by a length. Classic Stamp finished another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. The final time was 1:48.18 over a yielding course.
It was the first stakes triumph for Mona Rose, who returned $13.20 and earned $133,844 for owners Paul and Frank O'Brien.
"I've always had faith in her," said Earl Barnett, who trains Mona Rose. "She's big and strong. She's bred for turf, and handles it well."
One for Rose and Raylene were scratched. There was no place or show wagering.
* In the co-feature, the Grade 3, $168,800 , favored Silver Ticket ($5.30) overhauled the front-running Bachelor Blues inside the eighth pole en route to 1 3/4-length victory.
Bachelor Blues set fractions of 23.54 and 46.25 seconds in the nine-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds, as Honolua Storm stalked in second. Silver Ticket entered contention on the turn under Todd Kabel, and closed steadily through the stretch to complete the distance in 1:47.35 over a course labeled good.
Said Kabel, "Sometimes he's an anxious horse who drags you up there, but he was more relaxed today."
Burst of Fire finished third, while United States invader Dynalympic ended up seventh in the 10-horse field.
Silver Ticket banked $101,160 in his first stakes victory for Sam-Son Farm, which also owns Burst of Fire. Mark Frostad trains both runners.