Saturday Rush Hour: 'Gal' Speeds to Hendrie Victory

New York-based GAL IN A RUSH won her first stakes race, a graded one at that, with a last-to-first flurry to take the Grade 3 Hendrie Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta on July 6. It was the first try on an all-weather track for the five-year-old Ghostzapper mare trained by Christophe Clement for West Point Thoroughbreds, Chris Larsen and Titletown Thoroughbreds.

Saturday saw healthy wagering at Woodbine of well over $6 million. The track had itself poised to honour Emma-Jayne Wilson as the all-time leading money-earning woman jockey; however Wilson couldn’t quite get the $30,000-plus needed. The current leader is Hall of Famer JULIE KRONE whose mounts earned $90,126, 584 in the late 1980s and 90s (those earnings would be equal to about $200 million today based on inflation).

Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Gal in a Rush was 6-to-1 in the field of nine as double graded stakes winner Play the Music went off at even money. After a sizzling pace was set by local mare Owen’s Tour Guide, those in closest pursuit got tired while Kimura allowed Gal in a Rush to settle some seven lengths off the leader.

Scroll to continue with content

In the stretch run, as Owen’s Tour Guide hung tough, Gal in a Rush flew past to win by 1 ¼-lengths in a time of 1:15.54. A game Owen’s Tour Guide, an Ontario-bred by Tourist, finished second, a neck in front of Play the Music. Awesome Treat was fourth.

It was the fourth win in 16 races for Gal in a Rush who Tom and Mary Lou Teal and Adena Springs in Kentucky bred. The mare had been second in the Alywow Stakes at Woodbine in 2022 and in the License Fee Stakes this past May at Aqueduct.

***

One thousand dollars is all it took for Mike DePaulo, John Russell and Lou Donato to purchase MISTY POINT, a two-year-old debut winner Saturday for DePaulo and partners. Bred in Ontario by Ben Hutzel, the daughter of Point of Entry – Awesome Mariner by Awesome Again and her older half-sister Date With an Angel were both in the Fasig-Tipton December Digital Sale last year, offered by Shannondoe Farm as agent. DePaulo bought both gals including the latter for $4,000.

Misty Point, at 9-to-1, raced to victory under jockey Desean Bynoe in a maiden optional claiming race on Saturday, winning the 5 furlong dash in 59.53. Her dam Awesome Mariner is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Passion for Action, whom DePaulo trained for Hutzel.

***

Trainers Martin Drexler and Mark Casse each won a pair of races on Saturday. Drexler sent out BORDER TOWN to the fastest win of the day for owners A Bianco Holdings Ltd. The eight-year-old son of War Front led all the way through 6 1/2 furlongs on Tapeta, stopping the clock in 1:15.27. The gelding was winning for the first time since November after going to Florida for the winter. Sahin Civaci rode.

***

Earle Mack’s impressive gelding ROLLING ALONG won his maiden in race 1 in 1:15.90 for 6 1/2 furlongs. The son of West Coast got caught late in his debut in May and then was at Saratoga for a race on June 7 but he stumbled badly. The four-year-old was 3-to-5 on Saturday and cantered home for trainer Josie Carroll. Christina and Jay Hayden’s Saintsbury Farm bred the gelding and Kazushi Kimura rode.

***

CAITLINHERGRTNESS, making her first statt for trainer Kevin Attard, won a 7 1/2 furlong inner turf race on Saturday. The Omaha Beach filly, bred by Jesse Korona, is eligible for the Woodbine Oaks but elected to race on turf for the first time. Owned by Siena Farm and WinStar Farm, Caitlinhergrtness ran quickly, going in 1:29 for the distance. Rafael Hernandez rode.