October 14, 2023
By Woodbine Communications
TORONTO, October 14, 2023 – 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 1:35.75.
“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.
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