ONT Damsel Stakes ($125.00 Purse)
WO- For Fillies Three Years Old Foaled In ON
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
October 10, 2026

Following a disappointing run in the Grade 1 Alabama, it was interesting to see what would happen with Don’t Take The Girl. In August, trainer Big Jd Racing showed a massive amount of confidence in moving her up into the Grade 1 from overnights, which included the $5.00 claimer at BTP in June. The ONT Damsel Stakes was certainly not the Alabama, but looked to be a good landing spot for her. Indeed, it would be, as she would go wire to wire to earn the victory. The win is the first for Big Jd Racing in the race, and the second for jockey L Contreras. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:41.98, a middle of the road such time for the race. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.36)- The eventual winner of the race, Big Jd Racing’s Don’t Take The Girl bursts from the gate and quickly takes over the spot. While rounding the turn, she will be clear by a length and a half over The Sidley Stud’s Spring Ginger. Within a length of her, and to her outside is the Hrg Stables- trained Pendrith, and behind her it’s the one we expected much better out of, Axeman’s Deadmans Party. About two lengths behind all of them, we have our trailer, the 61/1 longshot from John Henry, Undercover Agent.

(½ Mile- :47.20)- Moving down the backstretch, Don’t Take The Girl continues to lead in an unchallenged manner, with a length and a half now on Pendrith. That one would inherit the second spot as Spring Ginger began to drop back already. Deadmans Party looked to have thoughts of making a move, but would become content to still run behind that one. Undercover Agent was still near no one.

(Top of The Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- At the top of the turn, the top two began to pull even further away from the rest of the field. Don’t Take The Girl would continue to lead during the turn, but at the top of the stretch, Pendrith would pull up alongside her and her supporters must have been feeling good that she was about to take home the win. Deadmans Party took over the third spot further back, but not due to a push. Instead, Spring Ginger continued her fade towards the back. Undercover Agent had not shown any interest in racing up to this point.

(Finish- 1:41.98)- While it may have seemed like Pendrith was about to take over the lead, Don’t Take The Girl had other ideas, showing a level of resiliency that her trainer had to be absolutely thrilled to watch. She would hang in there, but with a furlong to go, Pendrith had actually put a head in front. That made Don’t Take The Girl even more impressive in the late moments, as under the urging of L Contreras, they completely refused to back down, battling hard to the wire and ending up pulling out the win by a neck. Pendrith fought as well, and it may have been her drifting to the outside in the stretch that really cost her this win. Someone had to finish third, and that will be Deadmans Party. But if this was about a ten horse field, she’s probably finishing about sixth. The spot is hers because fourth place Undercover Agent forgot that this was a race and last place Spring Ginger only wanted to run about a half mile.

About The Winner- Don’t Take The Girl, trained by Big Jd Racing, is a three year old filly by the late Malibu Moon and is out of Realizzare. She was bred in Ontario as a second quarter two year old by Martyparty, and was acquired by Big Jd Racing with a $5.00 claim this June. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her fourth in seven starts and her first stake win. Her career earnings are now $138.02.

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded