Leinan sat off the swift early pace of favoured Mechaya, before launching a smart rally to take Sunday’s $155,500 Glorious Song Stakes, at Woodbine.
Leinan, trained by Josie Carroll and ridden by Luis Contreras, relaxed in the early running as Mechaya opened up a six-length lead down the backstretch.
Following splits of :22.12 and :45 to the half-mile, the mutuel favourite began to tire through the turn as Goldstryke Glory assumed the lead. Leinan, advancing comfortably through the turn, rallied resolutely down the lane and prevailed by a length in a final running time of 1:23.73. Goldstryke Glory stayed on for second, 2 ½-lengths in front of Mechaya.
Contreras, riding the Kentucky-bred daughter of Ready’s Image-Golden Mirage for the first time, expected his filly to put in a good effort.
“I was confident in my filly,” said Contreras. “I know she has a lot of speed, but in the race the five horse (Mechaya) showed a lot of speed. She (Leinan) relaxed nicely for me in the beginning. I kicked and fired at the end.”
Carroll, who captured Saturday’s Grade 2 Autumn Stakes with James Street, was also pleased with the relaxed performance of the James and Alice Sapara charge.
“I expected her to jump out of there,” said Carroll. “I asked Luis to ride her aggressively to the finish as she gets a little over confident to slacking a little bit. When the speed went out there and she was relaxed, I was happy to see the way she was running. She was very comfortable with them and when he asked her to take off, she took off.”
Leinan banked $90,000 in victory, while improving her record to two wins and two seconds from four starts.
She paid $16, $6.10 and $2.70, combining with Goldstryke Glory ($3.80, $2.30) for a $56 (2-6) exactor. A 2-6-5 (Mechaya, $2.10 to show) triactor was worth $109.
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