Fares Farm LLC’s Embur’s Song led wire-to-wire to take Sunday’s $150,000 Ontario Matron Stakes at Woodbine.
The 1 1/16-mile event was the fourth consecutive stakes score for the four-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song, who also won the Grade 3 Doubledogdare at Keeneland, the Grade 3 Hendrie at Woodbine and the Windward Stakes at Presque Isle Downs.
Jockey Patrick Husbands urged Embur’s Song to the lead out of the gate in a strong seven-horse field, that included Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year, Biofuel. Hooh Why pressured Embur’s Song into a sharp opening quarter of :23.59, but Husbands managed to slow things down along the backstretch hitting a half in :47.63 and three quarters in 1:12.01.
Biofuel, who saved ground along the rail from fourth position, was asked to pick it up into the far turn and loomed large as the field turned for home. With Biofuel gaining momentum on her outside and Ariana D rallying along the rail, Embur’s Song held on strong to complete a three-quarter length victory in a time of 1:43.39.
Husbands was impressed with his filly’s maturity following a sharp opening quarter.
“I took a little hold of her after the turn and she was relaxed from there. She was travelling easy,” said Husbands. “It played a big factor last time on the road at Presque Isle. Swinging home I had no horse, but the quality of her took me to the wire. Today, in the post parade, she was on her game. She’s just a nice horse.”
The Todd Pletcher trainee is now a six-time winner from nine starts.
Embur’s Song returned $4.70, $2.90 and $2.20, combining with Ariana D ($6.70, $3.10) for a $25.50 exactor. Biofuel ($2.10) completed a triactor worth $65.40.
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