SAV, a four-year-old Ontario-sired and bred daughter of Big Screen, chases her second added-money title in Saturday’s $125,000 Ontario Fashion (G3), at Woodbine.
A six-furlong main track event for fillies & mares, three-year-olds and upward, the Ontario Fashion has attracted six starters.
Trained by Ricky Griffith for owner Steven Duffield, Sav, who took last year’s La Prevoyante Stakes, will go after her second straight win after a half-length score over 7 furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on August 15.
Boasting a record of 5-6-1 from 14 starts, the grey, bred in Ontario by Spring Farm, has three wins, three seconds and a third in her last seven outings.
Sav began her career on a winning note, an authoritative 6 ½-length victory at 4 ½ panels on the Woodbine Tapeta on June 3, 2018.
Sent on her way at 11-1, she paid $25.80 for the win.
“That was very impressive,” praised Griffith. “She did it very professionally, and won it very easily. She won against the boys, so that was also impressive.”
Sav also reinforced what her trainer had known for some time leading up to her debut.
“We knew she was a good one when we bought her as a yearling,” said Griffith. “She had everything you were looking for. She was well balanced and strong. We liked her the moment we saw her.”
After a fifth in her second start, the My Dear Stakes, Sav concluded her two-year-old campaign with a runner-up effort in the Shady Well Stakes.
In 2019, Sav went 3-3-1 from eight starts.
She launched her four-year-old season on June 13, finishing second to Sister Peacock in a 7-furlong race over the Toronto oval main track.
“We’ve been trying to keep her in the right company, and she’s been very good us,” said Griffith. “We’d really like to get a graded win with her or at least have her graded stakes placed. We like everything about her. She’s a real sweetheart around the barn. She’s very gentle with my seven-year-old daughter. We’re very happy to have this horse.”
Sav, Hip No. 217, was a $28,000 purchase at the Canadian Thoroughbred Horse Society (Ontario Div.) 2017 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.
With speed aplenty in the field, the race could set up for PAINTING, an impeccably bred daughter of Distorted Humor, owned by Hill n Dale Equine Holdings and Glenn Sikura. Painting was also entered in the Belle Mahone Stakes Saturday but figures to go in the Fashion.
The 1/16-mile Belle Mahone (for fillies & mares, three-year-olds and upward) features nine starters in the $100,000 main track event. It goes as race eight.
Florida bred SOUPER ESCAPE, with 2 graded stakes wins this year will be odds-on for Live Oak Plantation. The 4-year-old by Medaglia D’Oro is the leading contender for champion older mare in Canada (main track).
On SUNDAY, Ontario sired 2-year-old colts and geldings race 7 1/2 furlongs on the inner turf in the Bull Page Stakes. Once a sprint on the main track the Bull Page has a field of 8 youngsters and none have tried grass. Simcoe Stakes winner DRAGON’S BREW will take support.
First post time is 1:10 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.
$125,000 ONTARIO FASHION STAKES (G3)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Sav – Justin Stein – Ricky Griffith
2 – Victory Kingdom (S) – Steven Bahen – Rodolphe Brisset
3 – Painting – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll
4 – Tomlin – Rafael Hernandez – Michael Stidham
5 – Sister Peacock – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Stuart Simon
6 – Magic Spell – David Moran – Gail Cox
$100,000 BELLE MAHONE STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer – Morning Line
1 – Silent Tango – Justin Stein – Richard Morden
2 – Art of Almost – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield
3 – Summer Sunday – Rafael Hernandez – Stuart Simon
4 – Souper Escape – Luis Contreras – Michael Trombetta
5 – Strike At Dawn – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard
6 – Saratoga Vision – Jeffrey Alderson – Alexander Patykewich
7 – Auntie Katherine – Juan Crawford – Jennifer Davis
8 – Royal Wedding – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires
9 – Painting – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll
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