Pamina Beats Katie Baby in Ontario Matron Photo Finish
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Photo: Michael Burns
Pamina (outside) wins the Ontario Matron at Woodbine
Augustin Stable's 4-year-old filly Pamina outdueled favorite Katie Baby to prevail in a photo finish in the CA$127,450 (US$97,514) Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) July 13 at Woodbine.
Jockey Luis Contreras had the Michael Dickinson trainee in contention, sitting outside the 2-1 favorite down the backstretch in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta test for fillies and mares.
Sense of Bravery posted fractions of :24.35, :48.08 and 1:11.31. Lunar Garden pressed the pace and made a bid for the lead, with Summer Luck and Ladies Night stalking before those two flattened out in front of the grandstand.
Turning into the stretch, Pamina rallied wide while Katie Baby sought room inside, and those two took off from the rest in a sprint to the finish. Pamina won by a head in 1:42.42.
"I had the perfect trip. I was outside most of the time and just looking," said Contreras. "This is a big, long-striding filly, and I didn't want any trouble for her and I got a perfect trip, so I was happy.
"I just kept an eye on Eurico (Rosa da Silva) and the horse to beat. I talked to Mike, and he told me if we send her before Eurico sends his horse, we'd have a big chance to win the race, and everything worked out perfect."
Bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, the daughter of Street Cry—Pamona Ball was a $65,000 purchase by H. Hatch from Brookdale Sales' consignment to the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She sold to Cromwell Bloodstock for $330,000 when consigned by Halcyon Hammock Farm to the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Pamina has raced stateside on turf for most of her career except for a fifth-place finish in the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) in November. She has four wins and three seconds from 10 starts and earnings of US$189,091 and is 2-for-2 this year. She won her season debut June 6 at Delaware Park after returning from her winter retreat bigger and stronger than ever.
"We love racing at Woodbine. This is one of the best racetracks in the world. You've got two fantastic turf courses, (and) the Tapeta track's not too bad, either," said Dickinson, a renowned trainer and the inventor of Tapeta. "It's very friendly here. We love coming here. You've got a lot of good horsemen, a lot of good trainers. And you've got some fantastic jockeys—you've got a very deep jockey pool. A very overall high standard."
Sent off at odds of 6-1, Pamina paid $15.20, $6.80, and $5.20. Katie Baby ($3.80, $3.20) was second, followed by 19-1 shot Giovanna Blues ($8.60) in third. Miss Mo Mentum, the 5-2 second choice, finished fourth.
Niigon's Bay, Lunar Garden, Crumlin Queen, Dixie Moon, Ladies Night, Summer Luck, and Sense of Bravery completed the order of finish.