Murray Stroud’s Youcan’tcatchme made every pole a winning one to capture Sunday’s $150,000 Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes, at Woodbine.
Sent postward as the emphatic 1-5 choice, Youcan’tcatchme and jockey Justin Stein immediately took to the lead in the six furlong ‘Poly’ tilt marking a quarter in :23.61 and the half in :46.72 as Wes Ward’s shipper Shrinking Violet pressed the pace along the rail.
Youcan’tcatchme maintained her advantage through the turn and had plenty in reserve down the lane to fend off Shrinking Violet for a 1 1/4-length win in a final running time of 1:10.15. Acting Naughty completed the triactor.
It was the third win in four starts this year for the four-year-old Florida homebred by The Daddy-Poppy’s Bad Girl, and her sixth victory in 12 career outings.
Youcan’tcatchme’s Ontario Fashion score marks the third stakes win of the season for the Sam DiPasquale trainee having opened her account in the Etobicoke Handicap followed up with a first graded win in the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes.
Stein always felt in control of the sprint despite the presence of Kent Desormeaux on Shrinking Violet.
“He took a run at me, but I had the horse positioned where I wanted,” said Stein. “I had control of the situation and I put a little pressure on that horse and if he wanted to make a move and use his horse early he could, but it was an honest horse race for sure.”
Youcan’tcatchme banked $90,000 in victory, while providing Stein with his fourteenth stakes win of the season.
She returned $2.50, $2.10 and $2.10, pairing with Shrinking Violet ($2.70, $2.40) for a $15.60 (5-3) exactor. A 5-3-6 (Acting Naughty, $2.10 to show) triactor was worth $13.50. Goldstryke Glory was scratched.
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