Spun Glass and Millie Girl rally to take Matron and Fashion G3 Stakes

TORONTO, October 14, 2023 – In an exciting upset, Spun Glass came from off the pace to win the $150,000 Ontario Fashion Stakes presented by Tanqueray (G3) for fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up, Saturday at Woodbine.

Spun Glass, trained by Michael Trombetta and owned and bred by Larry Johnson, achieved her seventh win and first graded stakes win. Spun Glass hasn’t been back to Woodbine since winning an allowance race in October of 2020.

After an even break, Hard Edge lead the field with Loyalty in second, and Hazelbrook in third, the quarter was reached in :22.54. Spun glass, with Luis Contreras aboard, was second last.

Spun Glass took the turn from the inside, making her way into fifth. The time at the half was :44.24. Loyalty was first, followed closely by Hazelbrook in second, Ready To Venture (GB) in third and Hard Edge in fourth.

In the final stretch, Spun Glass came through the centre of the field to win. Awesome Treat was second, Loyalty third, and Hazelbrook fourth.

“She broke really good so I just let he go at whatever speed she was comfortable”, said jockey Luis Contreras of his first time on the mare. “Once I was in the post parade I got a good feeling of her and just went from there”.

Vamtarsi and Time for an Angel were steward scratches.

Spun Glass paid $57.20 to win.

In other stakes action, Millie Girl, under Rafael Hernandez, rallied late to take the $150,000 Ontario Matron (G3), also for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack.

Millie Girl is trained by Catherine Day Phillips, who also co-owns (through her Kingfield Racing Stable, Ltd.) with Braconcrest Inc. and Apricot Valley Thoroughbreds. This is the 5-year old mare’s fourth win and first stakes win after finishing third in both the Royal North Stakes (G2) and the Nassau Stakes (G2) and second in last month’s Seaway Stakes (G3).

From post 8 in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta Grade 3, Millie girl broke in the centre of the field. With Angelou in the lead, the field reached the opening quarter in :24.53.

Angelou continued to lead with Tamarama (GB) following closely behind with Souper Hoity Toity and Il Malocchio battling for third. The field made it to the half in :48.87. Millie girl was third last.

Millie Girl started to make ground around the turn, moving up to fourth behind Angelo in first, Mouffy in second, and Il Malocchio in third. Down the stretch, Millie Girl flew past the leaders on the outside, winning by a nose at the wire. Angelou was second, Il Malochio third, and Mouffy fourth.

The final time was 1:41.96.

“I thought when she got into the clear she would run them down but they weren’t coming back to her very quickly and I thought uh-oh, we might be in trouble here but she still found a way to get there”, remarked trainer Catherine Day Philips, who never lost confidence in the 5-year old mare.

“She’s run very hard, we’ve always believed in her so much and really felt that she deserved to be a stakes winner, and a graded stakes winner now. I’m very happy for her.”

Do You Love Me and Strega were both Steward scratches.

Millie Girl paid 10.70 to win.