TORONTO, September 1, 2018 – Stronach Stables’ popular filly Zestina made a late run in the stretch to earn her first stakes victory in the $100,000 Passing Mood over Woodbine’s E.P. Taylor Turf Course on Saturday afternoon. The seven-furlong Passing Mood is for Ontario-sired three-year-old fillies. With Gary Boulanger aboard, Zestina tracked in fifth-place throughout then fanned out wide off the final turn and overtook the front-runners down the stretch to win in 1:22.84 over firm turf. The Sid Attard trainee hauled down the drifting race leader Without a Doubt (:24.67, :47.81) and the rail-skimming Silent Respect, who held on in a show photo over late-closer Line of Vision. Boulanger was confident heading into today’s test with the favoured filly who was a winner two starts ago over 6-1/2 furlongs on the turf. “She showed me a really big move and this big, long stretch really kind of plays to her,” noted Boulanger. “She’s got a big kick and I thought if I was relatively close, I should be able to run those horses down. She showed it today, she did it pretty easy.” Bred by Adena Springs, the Silent Name-Spun Lace filly is now a three-time winner and has conquered both the turf and Tapeta surfaces at Woodbine. She has finished no worse than third in her seven races lifetime. “She’s such a nice filly, she doesn’t mind running anywhere, but I think she likes the grass a little better,” said Attard, who has campaigned two previous winners of the Passing Mood (Generous Touch in 2016 and Arctic Laur in 2006). Zestina and jockey Gary Boulanger winning the Passing Mood Stakes on September 1 at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo) Sent postward as the 6-5 bettors’ choice, Zestina delivered on her pari-mutuel promise and returned $4.40, $2.70 and $2.20 at the betting windows. Without a Doubt ($5.70, $3.40) completed the exacta worth $21.50 while Silent Respect ($3.60) rounded out the trifecta, which returned $33.20 for a $1 ticket. With Line of Vision fourth, the superfecta paid $98.80 for a $1 ticket. Gosudarina, She’s Got Fire and Airy Fairy finished fifth through seventh. Live Thoroughbred racing continues at Woodbine on Sunday afternoon, featuring the $100,000 Ontario Jockey Club Stakes. The first of 10 races goes to post at 1 p.m. Share This:Share