Casie Coleman trainees finished one-two in Monday night’s $170,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final for three-year-old fillies over a track rated ‘good’ at Mohawk
Racetrack. In the end, it was Western Silk prevailing in a hard-fought battle over stablemate Bay Girl in 1:51.
Tiz To Dream blasted off the wings from post nine for driver Doug McNair and parked just past the first quarter in a rapid :26.1. At that point, Bay Girl shot out of third for driver Jody Jamieson and cleared just before the half in :55 seconds.
Western Silk was sitting patiently back in fifth spot and watched Bay Girl continue her torrid front-end speed past the third marker in 1:23.3. Ice Ice Baby made a move to the outside on the final turn and provided Western Silk with brief cover until the field turned for home.
Western Silk’s driver Mark MacDonald sensed the cover had gone as far as it was going to go and he gave his filly the green light to go three wide. Despite getting a two-length head start, Bay Girl could not hold off the furious late rally from Western Silk who powered by for the one-length win.
Bay Girl was a determined second with Tiz To Dream finishing well back in third. The winner returned $2.90 as the overwhelming top choice of the bettors.
“She (Western Silk) is just so fast that if she’s within earshot she’ll track them down,” said MacDonald. “Last time she raced, I had to move her three-wide much earlier than I wanted to and it cost her. This week, the trip was much cleaner and she showed what she can do. When she’s on top of her game, she’s as good as there is in North America. She is just a privilege to drive.”
The victory was the fifth in just seven starts this season for Western Silk who is owned by Coleman along with Tom Hill of Lancashire, Great Britain. She watched her seasonal bankroll swell to just over $550,000 and more than $870,000 lifetime.
(WEG)
To view Monday’s results, click here.