Artilena Gets Narrow First Stakes Win in Ontario Lassie
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Photo: Michael Burns
Artilena holds on by a head to win the Ontario Lassie at Woodbine
Artilena scored her first stakes victory from off the pace in the $125,000 Ontario Lassie Stakes for 2-year-old Ontario-bred fillies Dec. 9 at Woodbine.
Trained by Catherine Day Phillips for George Phillip Ledson, Braconcrest, Anderson Farms Ontario, and Kingfield Racing Stable, Artilena brought her juvenile record to two wins and two seconds from five starts. Her only off-the-board finish came in the Natalma Stakes (G1T).
"We have always really liked her," Day Phillips commented. "Her third start was in the Natalma and we expected her to run well there, and it didn't really work out well. But we reorganized, and here she is in the winner's circle."
Sharp for Sunday's 1 1/16-mile contest, the Artie Schiller filly breezed a bullet four furlongs in her most recent timed work Dec. 1, stopping the clock in :47 2/5 to be the fastest of 46 at the distance.
In the Ontario Lassie, jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson let Artilena settle just behind Scat's Rose, who led the field comfortably through fractions of :25.50 and :49.29. With the rest of the field sorting themselves out, Moksgmol claimed the third spot with Hastalavistababy and Lady Azalea following.
As six furlongs went in 1:13.60, Wilson let her filly roll up outside the leader as Western Curl moved into third. Coming off the turn and into the stretch, Artilena had momentum on her side, and as Scat's Rose tired to eventually finish fifth, she opened up her lead.
Fast-closing Hastalavistababy cut Artilena's lead to a head at the wire, and the final time for the race was 1:45.39 over the all-weather track.
"The way the races lined up, the only allowance option was a six-furlong race. It didn't make sense to run six furlongs and then run 1 1/16 miles, so we just focused on this race," said Day Phillips about the filly coming into the Ontario Lassie fresh. "She relaxed beautifully. Emma breezed her the other day and really enjoyed her. They got along well together, and she had her in a great spot today and rode a great race."
Artilena, who was off at odds of 8-1, returned $19.80, $8.20, and $4.20. Hastalavistababy paid $5.20 and $3.30. Western Curl got up for third from seventh in the field of eight to return $2.20 to show.
Bred by Anderson Farms Ontario and Marette Farrell, Artilena is the first foal out of the unraced Arch mare Helena's Triomphe.