ONT Matron Stakes (Grade 3)- $125.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
July 11, 2020

Last month, Smokey Stover showed his confidence in Camp Hollywood, picking her up in private sales from John Henry for $600.000. She had only been with that trainer for three starts, and after failing to hit the board in her first two races, she would be moved out after finishing second in the Grade 1 Phipps at twice the price than John Henry had picked her up for. Smokey Stover clearly has big aspirations, and the ONT Matron Stakes was just part of the larger picture for her. Perhaps, this was designed to just get her the confidence boost, and if it was, then she should get it! It was not easy, as a very tight finish at the wire between the top four finishes could have changed that game plan with a little less fortune at the end, but Camp Hollywood will prevail on this day. Congratulations! It is the first win in the race for both Smokey Stover and jockey J Stein, and the race was run in a time of 1:42.06. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :24.38)- After a very pedestrian start to the race, it was looking like Ghost In The Shell was going to be the early leader for her trainer, John Henry, but eventually once into the turn, Stellar Wind kicked it into gear for Simmer Down Stable, and as such it would be her setting the early fraction. Ghost In The Shell stayed in the second spot, half a length back, and had Nakamura Stables’ Scarlet And Gray to her inside. Behind her, there was a group of three running three wide, and they were all three lengths back. On the inside was the number three, otherwise known as our eventual winner, Camp Hollywood from Smokey Stover. She was unhurried, as were two running beside her, Fabulous Angelina (Allinthegate) and Starship Viking (Mb Stables). Going back two more lengths is where we find the trailer, Smart Queen (Night Rider Stables).

(½ Mile- :48.35)- Stellar Wind, once in the lead, was intent on picking up the pace of the race, and looked like she might open up by even more then her eventual two length advantage when things stabilized. Starship Viking was the main mover at this portion of the race, moving up from running with Camp Hollywood, to now running with the stalkers, who remained Ghost In The Shell and Scarlet And Gray. Each of them held their ground during the backstretch. Further back, Camp Hollywood stayed on the rail, and had a four length gap to the leader to eventually make up. Fabulous Angelina stayed to her outside, and it began to look like Smart Queen might make a move to at least join them as well.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Rounding the turn, Stellar Wind is beginning to tire out, enabling Starship Viking to inherit a very slight lead over Ghost In The Shell. During this time, J Stein was looking for his lane in which to take with Camp Hollywood. Eventually, he decided on using the rail, but this looked like it may be the wrong move as Stellar Wind was starting to back into her. However thanks to Scarlet And Gray’s charitable move down of a lane for her, earning her today’s Courteous Racehorse Of The Day Award, Camp Hollywood had an option. There really was no reason for Scarlet And Gray to move down, otherwise, especially since Ghost In The Shell was right there, but even Ghost In The Shell was happy to oblige this act of sportsmanship. With a lane free, Camp Hollywood was now ready to make her move. Fabulous Angelina had to take the outside route. Smart Queen was still not getting involved.

(Finish- 1:42.06)- The stretch run is quite entertaining as Starship Viking fights to hold off both Ghost In The Shell and Scarlet And Gray while also contending with Camp Hollywood advancing on the inside and Fabulous Angelina doing so on the outside. With just half a furlong to go, they were five wide and bobbing heads between them for the top spot, and at the wire, Camp Hollywood gets up just in time to get the win! Second goes to Starship Viking, with the third place purse split between Ghost In The Shell and Fabulous Angelina. Finishing fifth is Scarlet And Gray, showing that nice and considerate horses might not finish last, but they finish without any earnings. Hopefully, she can take some solace in knowing her complete act of sportsmanship played a major role in Camp Hollywood’s win. Smart Queen never got involved at any point, and at least Stellar Wind got some camera time early as a leader.

About The Winner- Camp Hollywood, trained by Smokey Stover, and ridden to victory by J Stein, is a four year old filly by Hollywood Kruz, and is out of Gcamp. She was bred in Ontario by Estero Farms as a yearling, and acquired by Smokey Stover for $600.000 in private sales from John Henry in June 2020. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her sixth in 20 starts, her fifth stake win, and fourth graded win. Her career earnings are now $2,210.240.

Track: Fast
Time: :24¹  :48¹  1:12   1:42

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 7 Paid 17.00
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 7 – 4 Paid 267.00, 3 – 7 – 6 Paid 40.90

Scratched: Think It Through

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES