Murray Stroud's Youcan'tcatchme led at every call to capture the Nov. 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine (VIDEO).
Sent postward as the emphatic 1-4 choice in a field of five fillies and mares going six furlongs on Polytrack, the Sam DiPasquale-trained Youcan'tcatchme and jockey Justin Stein immediately took to the lead. The pair completed a quarter in :23.61 and a half-mile in :46.72 as Wes Ward's shipper Shrinking Violet pressed the pace along the rail.
Youcan'tcatchme maintained her advantage through the turn and had plenty in reserve down the lane to fend off 9-1 shot Shrinking Violet, who fought hard at the rail under jockey Kent Desourmeaux before yielding late. At the wire, Youcan'tcatchme registered a 1 1/4-length win in a final running time of 1:10.15. Acting Naughty completed the trifecta at odds of 7-2. Completing the order of finish were Lemon Splash and Bear's Gem.
It was the third win in four starts this year for Youcan'tcatchme, a 4-year-old Florida homebred by The Daddy-—Poppy's Baby Girl, by Yankee Victor. She posted her sixth victory in 12 career outings, all at Woodbine. The Ontario Fashion purse boosted her career earnings to $409,155.
Youcan'tcatchme's Ontario Fashion score marks her third stakes win of the season, as she also captured the Aug. 4 Etobicoke Handicap, followed by the Aug. 31 Seaway Stakes (Can-III). Prior to her most recent victory, she ran second in the Oct. 2 Apeila Stakes.
Stein said he always felt in control in the Ontario Fashion despite the presence of Desormeaux on Shrinking Violet.
"He took a run at me, but I had the horse positioned where I wanted," said Stein. "I had control of the situation and I put a little pressure on that horse and if he wanted to make a move and use his horse early he could, but it was an honest horse race for sure."
Youcan'tcatchme banked $90,000 in victory, while providing Stein with his 14th stakes win of the season.
She returned $2.50, $2.1,0 and $2.10, pairing with Shrinking Violet ($2.70, $2.40) for a $15.60 (5-3) exacta. A 5-3-6 (Acting Naughty, $2.10 to show) trifecta was worth $13.50. Goldstryke Glory was scratched.
