William Thompson Jr.’s Ariana D upset Sunday’s $152,800 Bessarabian Stakes at Woodbine. In her first ever attempt at the Toronto oval, the 18-1 shot closed strongly on the outside to best favorite Sugar Again in the final few yards of the seven-furlong event for fillies and mares. Hooh Why, who seized command at the top of the stretch, stayed on for third.
Trained by Laurie Silvera, Ariana D won by a neck and covered seven furlongs in 1:22.97. Under winning jockey Omar Moreno, the four-year-old daughter of Rock Slide boosted her record to seven wins from 17 career starts.
Ariana D entered the Bessarabian off an allowance score at Keeneland on Oct. 23, also at seven furlongs, for trainer Merrill Scherer. Moreno hadn’t anticipated having to close from as far off the pace as he did with the Pennsylvania-bred. “I thought I was going to be up at the front,” said Moreno. “The gates opened and she was at the back. She was very comfortable back there.” The reserved early position allowed Moreno to save the filly’s best for the stretch. “My horse was really digging in there,” he added. “I’m glad we got it done.”
All seven of Ariana D’s victories have taken place over synthetic surfaces. The Bessarabian score elevated her earnings to $317,780.
Ariana D returned $39.10, $15.50 and $7.40, combining with Sugar Again ($4.20, $3.20) for a $172.50 exactor. Hooh Why ($3.80) rounded out a triactor worth $1,182.10. A $1 superfecta returned $3,842.35.
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