London Tower Controls Pace in Ontario Lassie

London Tower set a reserved pace under Emma-Jayne Wilson leaving plenty in the tank for the stretch run to capture Sunday's $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes, at Woodbine.

The Steve Owens homebred daughter of Head Chopper-Mrs. Donaghy arrived at the 1 1/16-miles stake for Ontario-bred juvenile fillies from a game third-place effort in the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes.

London Tower marked the Ontario Lassie opening quarter in :24.94 under moderate pressure from Jersey Jules, and reached the half-mile in an easy :50.13. Galina Point, winner of the South Ocean Stakes last time out, advanced down the backstretch reaching the flank of London Tower through the final turn. 

However, Wilson opened up a notch on London Tower and the talented bay found another gear romping home a 6 1/2-length winner in a final running time of 1:44.73.  Galina Point stayed on for place, 7 1/2-lengths in front of Wanna Win.

"I thought if I could get away with an easy enough half, that if I needed to I could use her for that third quarter and gain myself a couple lengths through the turn," said Wilson. "We were engaged on the backside but it was such an easy half, when I let her out a notch going into the turn I knew I had a lot of horse and a lot of gears."

Owens has enjoyed a remarkable 2014 campaign with his stallion Head Chopper who has provided a number of thrills with limited runners including La Prevoyante Stakes winner Zazinga and winning claimer Chopper At Bay.

Head Chopper, under Owens’ tutelage, compiled a record of 5-6-7 from 30 starts, including a second-place finish, by a nose to Halo Steven, in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby at Hastings in a racing career that spanned five seasons from 2005 to 2009.

"I'm so proud of that horse. I trained him from day one. We had fun racing and we're having a lot of fun now, too," said Owens of Head Chopper.

Owens noted that London Tower owns a distinctly different personality than her humble sire.

"She's mean, she's nasty. That's what separates her," laughed Owens. "Head Chopper is a gentleman, but this filly just wants to be the boss.

London Tower banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to 2-0-1 from three starts.

She paid $3.80 and $2.30, combining with Galina Point ($2.70) for an $8.10 (5-1) exactor. A 5-1-4 triactor (Wanna Win) was worth $30.70. Show wagering was not offered. Shez a Masterpiece, third in Saturday’s Coronation Futurity, was scratched.

San Nicola Thunder storms to victory in Sir Barton

San Nicola Thunder pressed the early pace of Spadina Road and stayed on gamely down the lane to capture Sunday's co-featured $150,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes, at Woodbine.

Trained by John Cardella for owners Paul Cooper and Joe Pirone, San Nicola Thunder benefitted from a crafty ride by Jesse Campbell after the heavily favoured Pender Harbour was scratched at the gate.

Spadina Road set a contested pace marking splits of :25.48 and :49.85 with San Nicola Thunder on his flank and Freitag, Chris' Brew and Iroquois Falls stalking their early foot.

A bunched up field turned into the lane with Spadina Road maintaining a precarious 1/2-length lead over the advancing San Nicola Thunder as Freitag and Chris' Brew waited for racing room.

San Nicola Thunder took command in mid-stretch as the rail finally opened up for Freitag who made a determined run only to miss by a head.  San Nicola Thunder covered 1 1/6-miles in 1:45.99. Spadina Road stayed on for third.

Campbell was pleased with the trip he engineered for the dark bay son of Silent Name.

"When 'Pender' unfortunately got scratched at the gate, I called a bit of an audible," said Campbell. "I let him show a little more speed than he usually does, just because the dynamics of the race changed. I'm very impressed with this horse. He's really a game horse."

The victory marked the second added-money score this season for San Nicola Thunder having previously captured the Bunty Lawless Stakes, a one-turn mile on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

San Nicola Thunder banked $75,000 in victory while improving his record to 5-6-5 from 26 starts.

He paid $5.50, $4 and $3.10, combining with Freitag ($5.50, $4.20) for a $70 (5-3) exactor. A 5-3-6 triactor (Spadina Road) was worth $122.60, while a $1 5-3-6-8 Superfecta (Iroquois Falls) came back $150.40. Bobcaygeon and Pender Harbour were scratched.

Source: Woodbine