Woodbine: On Rainbow Bridge gives apprentice first stakes win in Shady Well

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Apprentice jockey Skye Chernetz celebrated the first stakes win of her career here Sunday when guiding On Rainbow Bridge to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $150,800 Shady Well Stakes.

The Shady Well, a 5 1/2-furlong race for Ontario-foaled 2-year-old fillies, attracted a field of 10, and On Rainbow Bridge was the 5-1 second choice.

Starting from the inside post, On Rainbow Bridge stalked the pace set by Where’s the Carat while staying on the inside. Moving off the rail turning for home, On Rainbow Bridge rallied to take the lead in midstretch and held off the closing 40-1 outsider Paladin Bay.

“We had a perfect trip,” Chernetz said. “We just sat behind, a spot opened up, and she just went.”

Where’s the Carat held for third money, while Skylander Girl, the even-money favorite after winning the open, five-furlong My Dear Stakes just eight days earlier, made a menacing move around the final turn but flattened out to finish fourth. Fair Shake, Diamonds for Dixie, Bella’s Rebel, Lexie Lou, Southwest Lady, and Henry’s Island completed the order of finish.

On Rainbow Bridge was making her second career start after closing from more than 15 lengths back to finish third, beaten three lengths, at 4 1/2 furlongs.

“The first time she ran, she was really green,” Chernetz said. “We kind of got left in the gate. When we got into the stretch, she picked it up, and she kicked on. We always knew she was going to be a good horse.”

Owned by Triple K Stable and conditioned by Dave Cotey, On Rainbow Bridge was clocked in 1:04.38 and returned $12.70. The exacta returned $312.90, the trifecta came in at $2,475.30, and the superfecta paid $4,876.25.