Jockey Antonio Gallardo was so confident that his American invader KATE’S KINGDOM could win the Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes at Woodbine on October 22 that he elected to move his filly early in the 1 1/16 mile race for fillies and mares.
Hugging the rail for most of the race, Gallardo and Kate’s Kingdom (Animal Kingdom – Don’tgetmadalexis by Don’t Get Mad) were last of 10 into the backstretch when the early pace started slowing. That caused a bunch-up of horses including heavily favoured OUR FLASH DRIVE who had to be checked a couple of times by jockey Patrick Husbands. Meanwhile, Gallardo let his filly roll up the rail from last place to get within a few lengths of the lead.
Our Flash Drive and Husbands got out of traffic and moved early past the leaders and looked to be on her way to victory into the stretch but Kate’s Kingdom and Gallardo were bearing down.
Kate’s Kingdom, trained by Armando De La Cerda for Stephen Screnci, surged past very late to win by half a length in 1:41.94 on a mild and sunny afternoon in Toronto.
Our Flash Drive finished 5 ½ lengths ahead of Broadway Lady. Dreaming of Drew was fourth.
“Today, I had a really good trip,” said Gallardo. “First time [at Woodbine in the Trillium Stakes], I didn’t have the same luck. I had a really bad trip. There was no pace and I don’t know her. Too far behind, clipping heels, and I had to pull her all the way on the outside, seven-wide. Today, I am thinking I want to be a little more aggressive, maybe more close to the pace. I really like her. I knew for sure that she could do it today.”
De La Cerda was equally pleased with the result, “She’s a pretty nice filly. I know last time she had a lot of trouble. I like Woodbine because I always bring my horses and I got lucky right here. I could run her in Presque Isle next week, but my owner decided let’s go to the Grade 3 and we won the Grade 3.”
Bred in Kentucky by Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc., the bay has four career wins from 18 races and boosted her career earnings to over $240,000,
Kate’s Kingdom paid $18.40 to win.
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ALPHA MIA fought hard in race 2 on the day, a 6 1/2 furlong turf race for $25,000 claiming, and emerged with her fourth win of 2022. The 4-year-old Frac Daddy filly is one of 8 horses with 4 wins this year at Woodbine.
Owned by Ruben Peralta and Warren Wilcox and trained by Wilcox, Alphia Mia was picked out of the 2019 CTHS Mixed sale as a weanling by Wilcox, who paid just $1,400 for the Laurel Byrne bred.
A maiden after two races as a 3-year-old, Alpha Mia won her season debut on Tapeta and has taken three turf sprints since then. Slade Jones rode Alpha Mia on Saturday. From the mare Alpha Mood by Alphabet Soup, Alphia Mia is now 4-for-11 in her career with earnings of over $130,000.
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Kevin Attard’s dream season continued as the trainer won 3 more races on Saturday. Now with 73 total wins this year, Attard is having a career year. He sent out Raroma Stables’ POPTHECHAMPAGNE RO to win a maiden 2-year-old filly race for $25,000 claiming on Saturday and Al and Bill Ulwelling’s ROSEBUD’S HOPE for her third win of the campaign. In race 7 he brought the Speightstown filly VANTARSI off a 10-month layoff to win an allowance/optional claiming in a fast 1:15.36 for 6 1/2 furlongs. Vantarsi, who won one of 4 races in 2021 and was third in the Gowell Stakes at Turfway on Dec. 26, is owned by X-Men Racing and Madaket Stables.
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