Hazelbrook Sticks Out in Ontario Fashion

Hazelbrook , a winner of two sprint stakes in the older filly and mare division this season, will be solidly back to add to her portfolio in the Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3) at Woodbine. The CA$150,000 Ontario Fashion drew a field of six and will go as the ninth of 10 races on a program that begins at 1:20 p.m. ET. 

Hazelbrook, who races for the True North Stable of Keith Jones, began her career with a third-place finish here in the fall of 2020 and won her maiden and a first-level allowance to kick off her next campaign before finishing up the track in the Duchess Stakes. 

The Kentucky-bred has come into her own this season, knocking out her second allowance condition before putting together a stakes double in the Hendrie Stakes (G3) and the listed Sweet Briar Too Stakes, both races coming at 6 1/2 furlongs. 

Last out, Hazelbrook ran valiantly in defeat as she looked to have the measure of the talented favorite Lady Speightspeare  only to fall short by less than a length in the seven-furlong Seaway Stakes (G3) under Jason Hoyte, her only rider to date.  

"We always kind of liked her, but she was very goofy," trainer Lorne Richards said. "The first time we tried to run her we barely got her out of the paddock and then she got loose on parade. So, it wasn't like guys were lining up to ride her.  

"Jason had galloped her for me, and he started riding, so I said, 'I'll throw him on. He knows her, and at least he's not afraid or anything.' He's done a good job on her. He's a very good kid and he's a little underrated, I think."  

Hoyte has benefited from the partnership with Hazelbrook furnishing his two career stakes wins to date. 

Richards also relates that Hazelbrook's success has been achieved despite intestinal problems which have plagued her since she was a 2-year-old. 

"For want of a better description, it's like a colitis," said the trainer. "She's got scarring and inflammation on her intestines and stomach lining, and we don't know what it's caused from.  

"She's had some kind of trauma somewhere along the line. She's had three trips out to Guelph (the nearby University of Guelph's esteemed veterinary clinic) since we've had her here. Luckily, she hasn't gone this year, but she has these sort of attacks. It's not really a colic, but she's in real pain." 

Marie MacKay , the junior member of the Ontario Fashion field at age 3, also is the only other stakes winner in the lineup, having captured the 5 1/2-furlong Shady Well Stakes in her second career outing. 

The homebred, who races for Track West Racing and Don Whalen, finished third in an allowance optional claimer when last starting Sept. 25, ending behind fellow Ontario Fashion contestants Beat the System  and Imagery . 

Marie MacKay could make more effective use of her speed from the outside post on Saturday. Danny Vella trains and Patrick Husbands will be in the irons for the first time. 

Rounding out the field will be Beyond Mybudget  and Moqadama . Beyond Mybudget finished second behind Hazelbrook in the Sweet Briar Too but was a well-beaten sixth when beginning from the rail in the Seaway. 

Entries: Ontario Fashion S. (G3)

Woodbine, Saturday, October 15, 2022, Race 9

• Grade III
• 6f
• All Weather Track
• $150,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 5:39 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Hazelbrook (KY)	Jason Hoyte	125	Lorne Richards	6/5
2	2Beyond Mybudget (ON)	Declan Carroll	121	Mark E. Casse	3/1
3	3Beat the System (KY)	Kazushi Kimura	122	Dale A. Desruisseaux	4/1
4	4Imagery (KY)	Daisuke Fukumoto	121	Vito Armata	6/1
5	5Moqadama (IRE)	Rafael Manuel Hernandez	121	Mark E. Casse	12/1
6	6Marie MacKay (ON)	Patrick Husbands	118	Daniel J. Vella	8/1