Gainesway Stable and LNJ Foxwoods’ LOYALTY, coming off her first stakes victory in the Lady Erie Stakes at Presque Isle, won her first Woodbine stakes event with a 1 1/2 length win in the $125,000 Duchess Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 7 furlongs at Woodbine on October 2.
The dark bay daughter of Hard Spun – Slew’s Quality by Elusive Quality, trained by Josie Carroll, had luck on her side in the Duchess as three early scratches from the race included morning line favourite Empress Tigress, a fast stakes-winning filly for Augustin Stables.
With the field down to 6 rivals, Loyalty was waiting in post position one at post time when Carroll’s other trainee, Chiefswood Stables’ Pioneer’s Edge, sporting new blinkers, broke through the gate and ran off. After a delay, Pioneer’s Edge was safely captured and the five-horse Duchess field was on its way.