Gamble's Ghost Scores in Mazarine Stakes

Gamble's Ghost, the only filly in the Oct. 4 Mazarine Stakes (Can-III) field with previous stakes experience, closed from mid-pack to take the $114,045 event for 2-year-old fillies by three-quarters of a length at Woodbine.

Gamble’s Ghost, who had broken her maiden for owner Ivan Dalos by 8 1/4 lengths over the Woodbine Polytrack Aug. 14 before running second in the Sept. 12 Natalma Stakes (Can-IIT) over the Woodbine lawn, returned to the Polytrack and was bet down to odds-on favorite in the Mazarine, paying $2.90 and $2.10. Swoop and Strike, who grabbed the lead at the top of the stretch, held second and paid $3.00. There was no show wagering on the six-horse field.

The winner is a daughter of Ghostzapper  —Gambling Girl, by Secret Claim, bred in Ontario by Tall Oaks Farm. She is trained by Josie Carroll and was ridden by Luis Contreras.

Audacious Bear carved out the fractions in the 1 1/16-mile Mazarine, going :24.30, :49.82, and then 1:15.10 for the initial six furlongs. Reserved in fifth place, Contreras made his move coming into the stretch but was initially blocked. When he got Gamble’s Ghost in the clear she closed willingly, passing Swoop and Strike, Garavogue Colleen, and Audacious Bear en route to the wire. Garavogue Colleen finished third, with Audacious Bear, Conquest Soprano, and Allwehaveisnow completing the order of finish. The dark bay or brown winner hit the wire in 1:45.62 on a fast track.

The five fillies that finished behind the winner were each coming off maiden victories at Woodbine.