Woodbine: Paladin Bay makes early move and then holds on in Ontario Lassie

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - A determined Paladin Bay held off Lexie Lou and a charging Splashy Gizmo in the final strides to take the $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes under a fine ride from Gerry Olguin at Woodbine on Saturday.

On a cold, snowy afternoon, Lexie Lou set honest early fractions in the mile and a sixteenth test for 2-year-old fillies, while being stalked by Paladin Bay and Henry’s Island. Paladin Bay made a bold inside bid to the lead heading into the far turn, and then dug in late to prevail by a neck over Splashy Gizmo. Lexie Lou, the 7-10 favorite, finished another nose back in third in the six-horse field of Ontario-breds.

Lexie Lou “was lugging out a little on the backside,” Olguin said. “I didn’t want to pressure her the whole way, because that horse is so hard to get by. When the the rail opened a little, I just went. My filly has a lot of stamina.”

Paladin Bay ($6.30) covered the distance in 1:47.62, and earned $90,000 for owner Jessie Ladouceur, the wife of trainer Harold Ladouceur.