Midnight Miley makes every pole a winning one in Ontario Matron

Little Red Feather Racing's Midnight Miley, with Rafael Hernandez in the irons, made every pole a winning one to make the grade in Sunday's $156,100 Grade 3 Ontario Matron Stakes, at Woodbine.

Trained by Julia Carey, Midnight Miley used a take no prisoners approach in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta route leading through splits of :24.99, :48.88 and 1:12.98 as Sweater Weather and Minks Aprise chased her early foot.  

Midnight Miley opened up an insurmountable 4 ½-length lead at the top of the lane as Moon Rainbow, up the rail under Eurico Rosa da Silva, and Miss Chatelaine, with Alan Garcia up down the centre of the track, rallied to no avail as Midnight Miley cruised to a four-length score at odds of 25-1.  Miss Chatelaine won a place photo over Moon Rainbow.  Midnight Miley covered 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.74. Flipcup, the 2-1 mutuel favourite, failed to fire and was eased before walking off under her own power.

David Moran, aboard London Tower, and da Silva, the pilot of Moon Rainbow, launched a claim of foul against the winner for veering in at the break which was dismissed by the stewards.

Midnight Miley won her first added-money race last September when she captured the La Lorgnette Stakes by a head. Carey admitted that although there were a few anxious moments after the race, she felt confident in the four-year-old Midnight Lute bay throughout.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw them so far in front and in slow fractions," said Carey, who was taking her second graded stakes win, having previously won at the top flight with Disfuction in the 2008 edition of the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes. "She was doing so well, I would have been shocked if she hadn't run a good race. It looked tough on paper, but it worked out."

Midnight Miley, bred in Kentucky by Mark Seacrest, banked $90,000 in victory while improving her record to 5-1-1 from 14 starts

She paid $57.10, $21.40 and $7.70, combining with Miss Chatelaine ($6, $3.90) for a $380.20 (5-3) exactor. A 5-3-2 triactor (Moon Rainbow, $3.40 to show) was worth $1388, while a $1 Superfecta [5-3-2-7 (Hot Kiss)] came back $3374.65.

Lokinforpursemonee graduates in style in Victoria

Lokinforpursemonee, patiently handled by Gary Boulanger, rallied from last of eight to earn his first career win in Sunday's co-featured $143,000 Victoria Stakes, at Woodbine.

Trained by John Ross for his J.R. Racing Stable, the Silent Name bay arrived at the six furlong sprint for juveniles from a narrow head loss, on debut, to Pachi Cruze in the 5 1/2-furlong Frost King Stakes.

Arcen, sent to post as the 2-1 mutuel favourite while making his career debut, dropped jockey Jesse Campbell in the warm up before the race and left the gate awkwardly from post two, just inside of Lokinforpursemonee.  

Junket, supplemented to the Victoria for $2500, was away quickest of all under leading rider Eurico Rosa da Silva and set swift splits of :23.07 and :46.82 with Hunts Bay and State of Honor applying moderate pressure.

Lokinforpusemonee was shuffled back to the last through the turn but when Boulanger asked the colt for run, he burst willingly between rivals and was up in time to collar Junket for a 3/4-length win.  Junket held place by a neck over State of Honor. Lokinforpursemonee covered six furlongs in 1:11.17.

Boulanger demonstrated an abundance of confidence in Lokinforpursemonee to take back off the early pace.

"The four horse (Dahog) broke with me, but he had a little more turn of foot and was coming down. I didn't want to get involved in between, so I eased him back out of there," said Boulanger. "I probably got a little further back than I wanted, but I get on him a lot in the morning, I know him pretty well, and I know he has a pretty good turn of foot. He showed a lot of character today. When I asked him, he was always there and he got the job done."

Ross purchased the colt for $32,000 at the 2015 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale

"I eyeballed him at the sales here and he was a beautiful looking animal. He's bred by Hill 'N' Dale and they produce a beautiful horse," said Ross. "He came to hand as a two-year-old fairly early. He's a very smart horse, but what I really like about him is he's so willing.

"You can put him in between, take him back, and do all the things you'd like a mature horse to do," continued Ross. "He's found those things early and Gary did a tremendous job today. He got back into the pack a bit and Gary just relaxed and waited for an opening. When Gary pulled the trigger, the horse responded very well."

Lokinforpursemonee, bred in Ontario by Hill 'N' Dale Farm, banked $90,000 in victory while improving his record to 1-1-0 from two starts

He paid $10.50, $4.10 and $3.40, combining with Junket ($3.70, $2.80) for a $36 (3-6) exactor. A 3-6-5 triactor (State of Honor, $3.70 to show) was worth $137.70, while a $1 Superfecta [3-6-5-4 (Dahog)] came back $455.10

Source: Woodbine Communications Office