Local phenom Hey Livvy took advantage of 3-5 favourite Atlanta losing stride into the first turn by asserting herself to the lead and holding firm to a 1:51.2 score in the $220,000 Armbro Flight final on Saturday (Aug. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Gapping the gate at the start, Hey Livvy floated into third as Felicityshagwell S fired for the lead from post 7 chased by stablemate Plunge Blue Chip. Atlanta—unhurried at the start—attempted to tuck into fourth but promptly broke into a gallop moving to the first turn, soon recollecting her stride racing eighth to a :27.3 quarter.
“I had no idea that [Atlanta] had run,” said winning driver Trevor Henry, who co-owns Hey Livvy with Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. “That might’ve changed things, but I didn’t know she ran.
Henry hustled Hey Livvy out of third to the backside towards the front, clearing Plunge Blue Chip before a :55.2 half. Atlanta caught the field through the backstretch and attempted to advance overland and caught cover from Only Take Cash moving to the far turn.
Hey Livvy started to widen her margin over Plunge Blue Chip heading to three-quarters in 1:23.3 and remained strong in the final quarter, maintaining command as Felicityshagwell S rallied inside of Plunge Blue Chip for second. Superlative closed from last for fourth while Atlanta grew leg weary in the back field and finished seventh.
“I got this horse partly given to me because I got along with her,” Henry also said after the race, “and she was so hard at the start—she still is hard to drive—but she’s a fast mare and you appreciate it when she wins.”
A five-year-old mare by Donato Hanover, Hey Livvy won her sixth race from 13 starts this season and her 18th from 52 overall, earning $356,363. Jeff Gillis trains the $12.70 winner.
The Armbro Flight was one of the many major stakes events on the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup undercard. Be sure to check out the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup News Centre for all recaps and replays.