(from Woodbine report)
New York invader Porte Bonheur rallied on the inside to capture the $135,608 Ontario Fashion Stakes Nov. 2 at Woodbine.
The six-furlong event for fillies and mares was the first try over a synthetic surface for the daughter of Hennessy. She adjusted to the Toronto oval's Polytrack with style, defeating onrushing Ontario-bred Lucas Street by 1 1/2 lengths.
The Chicago-based mare Miss Macy Sue, the 17-10 favorite who set the pace, was third.
Porte Bonheur traveled six furlongs in 1:09.64.
"I wanted to play it by the break and see how it was going to go from there," said winning jockey Channing Hill. "Everyone left the inside open for me, which I didn't really understand. I took advantage of it. She ran through there really nice."
The Ontario Fashion was Hill's second victory aboard the Kentucky-bred, who is owned by Johanna Murphy-Leopoldsberger.
Trainer David Duggan said the 3-year-old filly came back with an excuse after her most recent start, an 11 1/4-length defeat to Indian Blessing in the Gallant Bloom (gr. II) at Belmont Park.
"She had a legitimate excuse. She came out of the race with a stone bruise," said Duggan, whose last Woodbine attempt came in the 2006 Flaming Page with sixth-place finisher Moon Dolly. "She's a very good filly. She's got a high cruising speed and you can place her wherever you want to."
The Ontario Fashion was the fifth career victory from nine starts for Porte Bonheur, who won the Victory Ride (gr. III) over talented filly Indyanne. Gainsborough Farm bred the winner, who is out of the Shadeed mare Sous Entendu, in Kentucky.
Porte Bonheur returned $15.50, $8.10, $4.90, combining with Lucas Street ($9.60, $5.30) for a $96.30 exacta. Miss Macy Sue ($3) rounded out a trifecta worth $287.30. Marina Ballerina completed a $1 superfecta worth $1,436.25.
