WO Oaks Stakes ($500.000 Purse)
WO- For Fillies Three Years Old Foaled in Canada
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
July 24, 2022

On Sunday, we would see enough precipitation at WO to cause the main track to be downgraded to “good”. That would also sum up what Mb Stables thought of the result, as his two horses, who each started on the outside, finished 1-2 in the $500.000 WO Oaks. In the winner’s circle, it would be Bella Chica, and that’s not who I expected to see there, although she was bet down to 11/2 odds, overall. It is yet another victory for Mb Stables in this race, and while we are used to him winning stakes, he has been quite impressive in this particular one, taking it now six times in the last ten years. Aboard the winner was M Franco, and for him, it is his first. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:50.65, almost a full second slower than last year’s time which was also on a “good” track surface. Here’s a look at the race!

(½ Mile- :47.64)- Bella Chica does not waste anytime asserting herself here in the WO Oaks, as the eventual winner out of Mb Stables goes to the front and holds her uncontested lead down the frontstretch and throughout the opening turn. After half a mile, her lead is two lengths. Assuming the stalking positions will be the Team 7 Illusions- trained Freezak, who is closer to the rail, and Arindel’s Lailoni, who runs to her outside. Behind them, the other Arindel entry, Paris Broadway, holds down the fourth spot, and she is length ahead of Wander, who is out of Mb Stables. Heavy longshot Pirate Code (Big Guns Stables) is next on the rail, followed by Low Budget Java (Nakamura Stables), Beaucucamonga (Glorify Stables), and Kind Lassie (Hawaiian Shirt Guy).

(3/4 Mile- 1:11.81)- As the field moves down the backstretch, there isn’t really anything new to report. Everyone holds their lane, and we don’t see any horse, whether near the front or at the back, look to make a move at this point. Bella Chica will certainly take that as she continues to enjoy her two length advantage without any pressure from behind. Moving into the turn, it would seem as though business would start to pick up, so let’s move forward!

(Top of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- Bella Chica is still in good form rounding the turn, and is hoping to go wire to wire as they enter the top of the stretch. Neither of the initial two stalkers, Freezak and Lailoni were making any kind of push, and they would find themselves passed on exit of the turn. Mb Stables had to do a quick check to see which filly that was posing a possible threat to his pacesetter, and had to be thrilled to see that it was Wander. At this point, it also looked like Paris Broadway would have something to say before this race was over, but she still had to make up a length on Wander, and then all the other ground to Bella Chica. Though she did have a clear lane, so Mb wasn’t going to celebrate a 1-2 finish quite yet.

(Finish- 1:50.65)- At the top of the stretch, Bella Chica was still in strong stride. With half a furlong to go, Wander had gotten closer and could not completely be written off at this point, but Mb Stables could safely say he was having a 1-2 finish as Paris Broadway was not making up ground quick enough. Impressively, Bella Chica ran well all the way to the end, and gets the win by half a length over her stablemate. It was one more length to third place Paris Broadway and then one more Pirate Code, who started running way too late. Freezak and Lailoni were side by side almost the whole way, but retreated backwards. Rounding it out, it’s Beaucucamonga, Low Budget Java, and Kind Lassie, each of whom struggled mightily today.

About The Winner- Bella Chica, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory by M Franco, is a three year old filly by Great Bounty and is out of Reminisce. She was bred in Ontario as a second quarter two year old by Mb Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in twelve starts and her second stake win. Her career earnings are now $740.600.

Track: Good
Time: :47³  1:11⁴  1:37   1:50³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 9 – 10 Paid 54.80
$1 Trifecta: 9 – 10 – 5 Paid 943.40

Scratched: Third Gear(L)

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded