Woodbine: Gal in a Rush lives up to her name in Hendrie

Gal in a Rush made her second appearance at Woodbine a winning one, closing from last place to take Saturday’s Grade 3, US$103,283 Hendrie Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong, synthetic-track sprint for fillies and mares.

Trained by Christophe Clément for owners West Point Thoroughbreds, Chris Larsen and Titletown Racing Stables, the 5-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper had finished second in the 2022 Alywow Stakes at Woodbine.

Saturday she went one better.

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Owen’s Tour Guide blasted out of the gate from the outside post and took command followed by Awesome Treat, Marissa’s Lady and even-money choice Play the Music, who had won her two previous starts in the Whimsical (G3) and Royal North (G3).

It was Owen’s Tour Guide on top by 1 1/2 lengths over Marissa’s Lady through an opening quarter-mile in 22.69 seconds while Gal in a Rush, in rein to Kazushi Kimura, sat last of nine. Owen’s Tour Guide continued to call the shots on the front end, but Marissa’s Lady and Play the Music dialed up the pressure to her outside after a half-mile in 44.82 seconds. They maintained that push in the turn for home.

At the stretch call Gal in a Rush moved into sixth but powered on to post a 1 1/4-length victory with a time of 1:15.54. A game Owen’s Tour Guide finished second, a neck in front of Play the Music. Awesome Treat was fourth followed in order by Honey Pants, Freedom Speaks, Marissa’s Lady, Tequilera and Unifying in last. Ro Town, Dolce Sopresa, and Baby No Worries were scratched.

“She’s the type to take it easy for the first half and try to finish up strong,” Kimura said. “I tried to put on the pressure and make sure I’m in the clear. That’s what I did today. It’s kind of like gambling, but she just responded so well.

“I was just focused on keeping a good rhythm with my horse. I knew Christophe gave me a good opportunity to ride nice horses here. She’s a nice horse.”

Bred in Kentucky by Tom and Mary Lou Teal and Adena Springs, the bay mare who notched her first stakes win is 16: 4-5-2. With the first-place Saturday of US$59,374, Gal in a Rush upped her career earnings to US$391,723. 

Gal in a Rush was a US$375,000 purchase at the 2021 OBS March Sale of 2-year-olds in training. She paid $15.10 for Sunday’s win.