Gamble's Ghost Victorious in Woodbine's Matron Stakes
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Photo: Michael Burns
Gamble's Ghost and jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva win the Ontario Matron Stakes at Woodbine
With a four-wide rally in the stretch, Gamble's Ghost surged from next to last to win the $125,000 Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) July 15 on Woodbine's all-weather track.
After a break from post 7 in the field of nine older fillies and mares, the 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper lacked early speed and settled in comfortably second from the back under jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva. The fast-moving Mark Casse trio of My Arch Enemy, Malibu Bonnie, and Let It Ride Mom took the lead three across the track as My Arch Enemy set fractions of :24.65, :50.21, and 1:14.85 through the first six furlongs.
Two wide as they hit the clubhouse turn, Gamble's Ghost looked unhurried entering the backstretch. Pressuring the leader on the outside, Let It Ride Mom managed to eke out a short-lived lead over My Arch Enemy in the final furlong as Malibu Bonnie drove ahead for a late challenge.
Angled out farther in the stretch, Gamble's Ghost found a clear path to the front and kicked away in a ground-saving ride that sent her across the finish in a final time of 1:44.88 for 1 1/16 miles.
"I had a lot of confidence," da Silva said. "When we were in the paddock, (trainer) Josie (Carroll) told me, 'Eurico, just let her run her race.' She was very, very relaxed all the way. … I chose to save a little more ground, and I knew she was going to run in the end. She ran beautiful. When she turned for home, all she wanted to do was catch all the horses."
Let It Ride Mom took second and was followed by My Arch Enemy and Malibu Bonnie.
Sunday's ride was almost an exact replay of Gamble's Ghost's June 17 trip in the Trillium Stakes (G3), when she rallied from last to win over the same distance. The Trillium even sported a similar lineup, including fellow Matron runners My Arch Enemy, Malibu Bonnie, Grizzel, and Sister Nation.
"This mare, when she sees a horse in front of her, she's going to catch it," Carroll said. "She's just getting better and better, which is unusual as a mare gets older. But she just loves to chase horses. … You can't change her. She likes to make that one run."
Off at odds of 2-1, Gamble's Ghost paid $6.50, $3.10, and $2.50. Bred in Ontario by owner and breeder Ivan Davlos, Gamble's Ghost improved her record to 9-3-1 from 19 starts, with earnings of $721,560.