Woodbine: Weekend Romance relies on speed to take Passing Mood

ETOBICOKE, Ontario — Weekend Romance put away the other speed and kept on going to capture her first stakes under Luis Contreras in the $125,000 Passing Mood at Woodbine on Saturday.

Weekend Romance ($3.10) was sharper than usual in the seven-furlong sprint, and she ended up setting a lively pace over a hard turf course that has been kind to speed. She maintained a clear lead throughout the stretch, before holding off second choice Sinister Quill to score by a half-length, in a time of 1:21.79. Medabuck rallied for third in the seven-horse field of Ontario-sired 3-year-old fillies.

Weekend Romance, who is trained by Catherine Day Phillips, collected $75,000 for the partnership of Annecchini, D’Alimonte Holdings Inc., and Kingfield Farm.

“She’s a very fast filly,” said Day Phillips. “Being on the inside, with horses outside of her, she jumped on the bridle and was very aggressive. I think Luis was a little surprised at how quick and aggressive that she actually was. It was a long stretch.”