Three-year-old Western Terror pacing fillies Theta Blue Chip and Touch Of Kathryn captured a pair of $25,000 Autumn Stakes eliminations held on Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack
. The Autumn Stakes are for Ontario sired non-winners of $50,000 lifetime or non-winners of $30,000 in 2010 as of Oct. 31.
In the opening elimination, Theta Blue Chip, driven by Paul MacDonell, rallied off cover to prevail in 1:55.4, equaling her lifetime mark.
Full Circle Patty (Mike Saftic) settled on top before the :27-second opening quarter ahead of Notch Yer Best (Roger Mayotte), Tymal Dalia (Jody Jamieson) and Lyons Lass (Mark MacDonald), but was faced with one challenger after another down the backstretch.
Tymal Dalia, the 6-5 favourite, rushed to command and was followed by Lyons Lass, who hit the half in :56.2.
Notch Yer Best was next to move as the field headed towards the turn. She struck the front at the 1:26.1 three-quarters mark with I Love Too Much (Chris Christoforou) rolling up to apply pressure and Theta Blue Chip rallying off cover.
Theta Blue Chip swept past her rivals in deep stretch for the 3/4-length victory while Tymal Dalia slipped up the rail to place. I Love Too Much finished third with Full Circle Patty and Notch Yer Best completing the cashers.
Theta Blue Chip paid $13.10 to win as the 5-1 fourth choice. Ron O’Neill trains the Western Terror-Magical Pride filly, a winner of two races in 21 starts and $44,494 this year, for Irwin Stables Inc. of Cobourg, Ont.
In rein to Jack Moiseyev, Touch Of Kathryn made a backstretch brush to take the lead and then held off her rivals by a neck for a 1:55 victory in the second elimination.
Astrmowin (James MacDonald) posted the opening quarter of :27.2 before Baillargeon sent the 8-5 favourite to the top from third. Touch Of Kathryn then proceeded to the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:26.2.
With Full Circle Hope (Mark MacDonald) moving out from third around the turn, Touch Of Kathryn dug in down the stretch and held on for the narrow victory. Ella V Horse (Randy Waples) split horses to place with Full Circle Faith right there for third. Hustleonhome (Sylvain Filion) and Capris In Motion (Mike Saftic) finished fourth and fifth.
Touch Of Kathryn paid $5.20 to win as the bettor's choice. Lightly raced at two, the Western Terror-Touch Of Bogart miss notched her seventh win in 16 seasonal starts and watched her 2010 earnings climb to $56,190 for trainer Ben Baillargeon and owner Ronald Brechler of Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Here is a look at the field for the $60,000 Autumn Stakes final, which will be held next Friday night at Woodbine:
1. Full Circle Hope
2. Touch Of Kathryn
3. Theta Blue Chip
4. Tymal Dalia
5. Capris In Motion
6. Hustleonhome
7. Full Circle Patty
8. Ella V Horse
9. Notch Yer Best
10. I Love Too Much
Earlier on the card, Warrawee Koine pulled off an 18-1 upset in this week’s $38,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace.
Driven by Jody Jamieson, Warrawee Koine sprinted off the gate from the outside Post 7 with Run On Luck (Mark MacDonald) parked out and rolling up to take over at the :26.4 opening quarter mark.
Making her move from third, 1-5 favourite Arts Diva (Paul MacDonell) advanced down the backstretch and took control before reaching the half-mile mark in :55.
As Arts Diva raced to three-quarters in 1:23.3, Warrawee Koine moved back out for more and came rushing up alongside the leader. The 18-1 longshot then edged away in the stretch to a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:51 flat. Run On Luck came on in between horses to grab second ahead of Arts Diva.
Warrawee Koine returned $39.40 to her backers for the win. The four-year-old daughter of Astreos-My Gal Hall, who has won three times in eight outings and over $45,000 this year, is trained by Colin Johnson for owner Dr. Michael Wilson of Rockwood, Ont. The lion’s share of the purse pushed her lifetime earnings over the $200,000 mark.
To view Friday’s results, click here.