Robert Harvey’s Calling Rhy Rhy battled for the early lead but had plenty left in the stretch run for jockey Alan Garcia in Saturday’s $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Roger Attfield, the victory for Calling Rhy Rhy in the one-mile turf stake for Ontario-sired sophomore fillies was both a first added-money and grass score for the City Zip bay.
Calling Rhy Rhy arrived at the Ontario Damsel off a stalking score in a six furlong Tapeta sprint on June 18, but Garcia decided on a more prominent trip in the Ontario Damsel dueling with Northern Fern through splits of :23.61 and :46.78 as Swoop and Strike and Sparkles’ Girl stalked their early foot.
Garcia maintained his inside position through the turn and put away Northern Fern as Swoop and Strike launched an inside bid while Dublin Diva rallied outside of horses with Miss Metropolitan following suit. Calling Rhy Rhy persevered down the lengthy stretch run to hold off Swoop and Strike and Miss Metropolitan, who was full of run but in need of racing room, to secure a ¾-length win. Swoop and Strike earned place by a ½-length over Miss Metropolitan. Calling Rhy Rhy covered the mile in 1:35.04.
Garcia was pleased with the trip he worked out for the versatile Calling Rhy Rhy.
“She’s a pretty nice filly. She showed last time she could come from behind, so today with post one if we broke good, we’re gone. If not, we can sit,” said Garcia. “Everything went perfect. She was nice and relaxed and turning for home she gave me everything she had.”
The victory marked the third stakes win of the meet for Garcia who previously captured the Grade 2 Eclipse with Are You Kidding Me and the Zadracarta Stakes with Internal Bourbon. Both horses trained by Attfield.
“We’ve had a good go together and he’s a great rider,” said Attfield.
A winner at first asking in November when sprinting on the Woodbine main, Calling Rhy Rhy went three starts without hitting the board before finding the winner’s circle again on June 18.
“She’s settled now. Last year she was a little bit tense. She was very relaxed today and saddled really well,” said Attfield. “It was interesting to see her on the turf. She hadn’t run on it before but, she had always worked well on it.”
The new surface and a stretch out to a mile, the furthest Calling Rhy Rhy has raced as of yet, proved to be no problem for the improving bay.
“She handled it beautifully. She ran a very forwardly placed race and then still had that big kick, said Attfield.
Calling Rhy Rhy, bred in Ontario by her owner, banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to three wins from six starts.
She paid $6.80, $3.60 and $3, combining with Swoop and Strike ($3.40, $2.80) for a $28 (1-4) exactor. A 1-4-6 triactor (Miss Metropolitan, $4 to show) was worth $144.90, while a $1 Superfecta [1-4-6-2 (Sparkles’ Girl)] came back $260.40.
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