London Tower set a reserved pace under Emma-Jayne Wilson leaving plenty in the tank for the stretch run to capture Sunday’s $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes, at Woodbine.
The Steve Owens homebred daughter of Head Chopper-Mrs. Donaghy arrived at the 1 1/16-miles stake for Ontario-bred juvenile fillies from a game third-place effort in the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes.
London Tower marked the Ontario Lassie opening quarter in :24.94 under moderate pressure from Jersey Jules, and reached the half-mile in an easy :50.13. Galina Point, winner of the South Ocean Stakes last time out, advanced down the backstretch reaching the flank of London Tower through the final turn.
However, Wilson opened up a notch on London Tower and the talented bay found another gear romping home a 6 1/2-length winner in a final running time of 1:44.73. Galina Point stayed on for place, 7 1/2-lengths in front of Wanna Win.
“I thought if I could get away with an easy enough half, that if I needed to I could use her for that third quarter and gain myself a couple lengths through the turn,” said Wilson. “We were engaged on the backside but it was such an easy half, when I let her out a notch going into the turn I knew I had a lot of horse and a lot of gears.”
Owens has enjoyed a remarkable 2014 campaign with his stallion Head Chopper who has provided a number of thrills with limited runners including La Prevoyante Stakes winner Zazinga and winning claimer Chopper At Bay.
Head Chopper, under Owens’ tutelage, compiled a record of 5-6-7 from 30 starts, including a second-place finish, by a nose to Halo Steven, in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby at Hastings in a racing career that spanned five seasons from 2005 to 2009.
“I’m so proud of that horse. I trained him from day one. We had fun racing and we’re having a lot of fun now, too,” said Owens of Head Chopper.
Owens noted that London Tower owns a distinctly different personality than her humble sire.
“She’s mean, she’s nasty. That’s what separates her,” laughed Owens. “Head Chopper is a gentleman, but this filly just wants to be the boss.
Head Chopper banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to 2-0-1 from three starts.
She paid $3.80 and $2.30, combining with Galina Point ($2.70) for an $8.10 (5-1) exactor. A 5-1-4 triactor (Wanna Win) was worth $30.70. Show wagering was not offered. Shez a Masterpiece, third in Saturday’s Coronation Futurity, was scratched.
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