Brooklynsway enjoyed a ground-saving trip under Emma-Jayne Wilson, before splitting rivals in deep stretch to capture the 69th running of the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Sunday, at Woodbine.
Owned and trained by John Ross, the dark bay daughter of Giant Gizmo-Explosive Story arrived at the 1 1/16-miles ‘Poly’ stake for Canadian-foaled juvenile fillies from a determined second-place effort in the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes.
Brooklynsway, sent to post at odds of 5-1, took on a field of nine in the Princess Elizabeth including the well-regarded 6-5 favourite London Tower who set splits of :24.46 and :48.43 for rider Gary Boulanger.
London Tower, a 7 3/4-length maiden allowance winner in her October 4 debut, led the field into the final turn as Patrick Husbands urged Shez a Masterpiece into contention.
Wilson, content to maintain position on the rail, saved ground until mid-stretch before angling out to rally between the dueling London Tower and Shez a Masterpiece to secure a length win. Shez a Masterpiece edged London Tower for the place position.
Brooklynsway covered the 1 1/16-miles in 1:44.35
“With an inside post, I thought I could get an inside trip,” said Wilson. “I had my eye on Steve Owens’ filly (London Tower) the whole way, just making sure she didn’t get away from us. She’s a nice filly. I thought ‘Brooklyn’ was a little bit better for the day and she proved me right.”
Brooklynsway debuted with a third-place finish in the Shady Well Stakes on July 13. The talented dark bay followed that effort with another third-place run in the Nandi Stakes before breaking her maiden in the Muskoka Stakes on August 27.
“Two start ago when she won the sales stakes (Muskoka Stakes) she showed us she has a real ferocious punch,” said Wilson. “When I pulled the trigger (in the Princess Elizabeth), she gave me a real big kick.”
Brooklynsway, bred in Ontario by HJT Racing Stable, banked $150,000 in victory while improving her record to 2-1-2 from 5 starts.
She returned $12, $5.90 and $2.90, pairing with Shez a Masterpiece ($4.40, $2.60) for a $41.20 (3-2) exactor. A 3-2-5 (London Tower, $2.30 to show) triactor was worth $99.50, while a $1 Superfecta [3-2-5-8 (Leading Edge)] came back $276.
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