ONT Damsel Stakes- $150.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies Three Years Old Foaled in Ontario
One Mile on the Turf
July 16, 2016

In just her fourth start, Must Be Nice made it look very easy in the 11th running of the ONT Damsel Stakes, picking up the win for Australia Wide.  It is the second year in a row that the trainer has won the race, and it is third overall winner in the history of the race.   Must Be Nice made her stake debut in today’s race, and had as much of a racing career to that point as some who will be running in two year old stakes this weekend.  Australia Wide has been very patient with her, putting her out on the track every two or three months.  Even though her last allowance win was sharp, it was still two and a half months ago, so we must credit the level of patience that the trainer has to bring along his stock.  He has certainly been rewarded with this one.    In this race, she would jump out to the lead right from the gate and never would be tested, making it look very, very easy.  Aboard the winner was L Contreras, who wins the race for the first time.  The time of the win was 1:33.58, making it the fastest edition of the race that has been run with the same conditions. Congratulations to the winners! Let’s look more at it now!

1st- 5- Must Be Nice (9/2)- Our eventual winner from Australia Wide was ready to go right from start, emphatically jumping out to an uncontested race lead.  Drew away by a length and a half as they hit the quarter-mark in :23.43, and she would extend her lead even more as they ran down the backstretch.  The lead was up to 2 ½ as she ran the second quarter consistently, setting the half in :46.74.  Rounding the turn was not a problem either, and her lead had extended to four lengths by the time they hit the top of the stretch, still running the same consistent fractions as 3/4 went in 1:09.74.  In the stretch, we started to see some of the rivals cut into her lead, but they still never made jockey L Contreras sweat.  With a furlong to go, she still led by 2 1/4, and with half a furlong to go, she was still up by 1 3/4.  Their charge would simply be too little, too late.  Must Be Nice was allowed to get away from them, and she made them pay, cruising easily to the finish line in 1:33.58.   We can expect her to run in bigger and better after this, and when she does, it will not be this easy.  Must Be Nice is a three year old filly by the late Nebraskan Zarkava, and out of Tail Of The General (by General Assembly).  She was bred in Ontario by Australia Wide as a third quarter two year old, and they have been together throughout.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 4- Exclusive Ballerina (9/5)- The Exclusive Notice filly had no interest in the early pace and went right to the back for Drabfantasy.  This was a little unexpected as in her last couple races, she had been up on the lead, though has run like this before.  J S McAleney positioned her in the turn to make a move around her rivals, and was poised to strike at the top of the stretch.  Once in her lane, she made an enthusiastic push in the stretch, and there was no one better in this race in the final furlong.  She wasn’t going to get Must Be Nice, but it was enough to get up for second.

3rd- 2- Drive Home (1/1)- The even money favorite from Mb Stables started well and stalked Must Be Nice initially, but notably backed up as they reached the start of the turn.  Showed some resurgent life as they approached the exit of the turn as she looked to make up some of the ground she conceded earlier.  Ran very well in stretch and got closer to Must Be Nice, but at the same time, the powerful run of Exclusive Ballerina nipped her for the exacta.

4th- 3- You Must Believe (57/1)- The longest shot on the board for Pan Farms started near the back, keeping a length or two between herself and the battle for second.  Seemed to take a couple seconds longer to get in her best stride in comparison to those she would get her picture taken with later.  Ran just as well as them once she got moving.  Looked particularly good in the dying moments of the race.

5th- 1- What A Bargain (6/1)- The Double J Stables filly got off to a good start, and battled Drive Home for second early.  She would remain in that position, about 2 ½ lengths back as they moved into the turn.  Struggled in the turn, and had no stretch response.

Track: Firm
Time: :23²  :46³  1:09³  1:33²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 4 Paid 7.10
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 4 – 2 Paid 24.20

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded