Sunday, June 05, 2011
Alex
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| Inglorious, pictured, captured the 56th running of the Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser at Woodbine on Sunday. Courtesy: WEG / Michael Burns Photography |
Coming into the Oaks off of a victory in the La Lorgnette Stakes on May 15th, Inglorious sat off of the pace in the early going as Spooky Kitten, Bear It's Time and Marketing Mix moved ahead to take the early lead through the first turn. Running through the opening quarter in 24.89, that trio continued to lead the field into the far turn with Roxy Gap. With the half mile being completed by the leaders in a slow 50.57, Inglorious was able to draft behind the leaders and wait for her spot to make her move.
When Marketing Mix made a push to the front and Bear It's Time began to fade, Inglorious angled out into the three-wide path and followed Marketing Mix into the stretch. A game Spooky Kitten was not going to give up the lead easily, but Inglorious continued to make up ground with her long strides, eventually catching Spooky Kitten inside the final furlong and hanging on to win by three quarters of a length. Spooky Kitten finished second, Marketing Mix was third and Roxy Gap completed the superfecta in fourth place.
With the race looking very similar to the La Lorgnette, jockey Luis Contreras was not worried about the traffic in front turning for home.
"Well, not really worried (about being behind horses)," said Contreras, who captured his first major Canadian stakes victory. "I was in the best position in the race. I was behind the horses waiting for my move. She's (Inglorious) amazing, what can I say? She can run anywhere she wants; doesn't matter."
Trainer Josie Carroll secured the career Oaks-Plate "double" with the win, after winning the 2006 Queen's Plate with Edenwold. She also became the second female trainer to win the Oaks after Carolyn Costigan won the Oaks last year with Roan Inish.
"I was thinking it was a bit crowded here (around the far turn)," said Carroll. "Then I saw Luis starting to angle, and I thought he rode a heady race. I thought if we've got enough horse, we're okay. I thought she was (strong down the stretch)."
Inglorious notched her fourth career victory in just her sixth career start, all stakes races. The three-year-old daughter of Hennessy is now four-for-four in Woodbine stakes races after her Oaks victory. Inglorious secured victory in the La Lorngette Stakes earlier this eason on May 15th, and won the Ontario Lassie Stakes and the Fanfrelche Stakes as a two-year-old in 2010.
The question now becomes whether Inglorious will try to take on the boys in the 152nd running of the Queen's Plate on June 26th. Inglorious was named the 4-1 Winterbook favourite for the Plate and now returns to consideration as one of the favourites after her performance in the Oaks. Carroll wouldn't commit to the Plate just yet, as the second jewel in Canada's Triple Tiara, the Bison City Stakes, takes place just one week after the Queen's Plate. By running the Queen's Plate, Inglorious would likely not have the opportunity to win the Tiara.
"After her race today, we'll see how she comes out of it, and we'll play it by ear," Carroll said of Inglorious' Queen's Plate status.
Inglorious was purchased by current owners Donver Stable for $90,000 at the CTHS Yearing Select Sale in September of 2009. It turned out to be a good investment, as Inglorious has now earned $650,000 with her win today.
Check out the Woodbine Oaks race replay below....
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