The Prophet Mary turned a ground-saving journey into a maiden-breaking score in the $50,000 Autumn Stakes Final for two-year-old pacing fillies on Thursday at Woodbine Racetrack

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Keith Oliver rushed off the gate with the The Prophet Mary, who was sandwiched between Golden Era and a three-wide St Lads Morgan at the quarter pole in :28.1. The Prophet Mary crossed over in front of Golden Era, but she was quickly overtaken by St Lads Morgan as the group entered the backstretch. St Lads Morgan led the field through middle panels of :57.4 and 1:26.1, with final pressure coming from Shadys M Three around the final turn.

Shadys M Three gained a narrow lead as the field sprinted into the lane, but she was outpaced by The Prophet Mary, who shook loose and used a :28.4 final quarter to notch the win by three-quarters of a length over Shadys M Three in 1:55.1. St Lads Morgan held on gamely to finish third. Even-money favourite Machleen enjoyed a second-over trip, but she failed to fire in the late stages and had to settle for a fourth-place finish.

Anthony Montini trains the homebred daughter of Million Dollar Cam-Proxahantis for Onlineharnessowner Com along with Gary and Susanne McCready of Uxbridge, ON. It was the first win in seven tries for the youngster, who pushed her earnings to $32,100.

Earlier on the card a set of Autumn Stakes eliminations were contested for three-year-old trotting fillies.

First Flower rallied for a 1:58.1 score in her $25,000 tilt for trainer/driver Tor Hagmann. The daughter of Angus Hall-Elena tracked cover and then accelerated past rivals in the lane en route to notching the win by 1-1/2 lengths over Spanish Mama. Ashlake took home the show dough.

Anita Valstad of Cambridge, ON owns the career winner of $60,332.

Pretty Crafty took over command past the half in the second elimination, and once she cleared it was game over for everyone else. Mario Baillargeon had the daughter of Here Comes Herbie-Appleby Dreambelle on cruise control at the finish, winning by 1-3/4 lengths over Amoreena in 1:58.2. Herbies Lenu came on strong to finish third. Race favourite Nordic De Vie had to settle for a fourth-place finish after her first-over bid backfired.

Ben Baillargeon trains Pretty Crafty for the partnership of Richard Thompson and Robert Watson of London along with Mike Bartram of Ingersoll, ON. It was the filly’s second consecutive score, and the lion’s share of the purse boosted her overall earnings to $83,570.

The top five finishers from each of Thursday’s eliminations will advance to next Thursday’s final, and here’s how they’ll line up behind the starting gate:

$60,000 Autumn Stakes Final
1. Ashlake
2. First Flower
3. Pretty Crafty
4. Angel Warken
5. Amoreena
6. Stage Fright
7. Third Copy
8. Spanish Mama
9. Nordic De Vie
10. Herbies Lenu

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.