Seductively Overpowering Whimsical Winner

(from Woodbine report)
Kinghaven Farms homebred Seductively kicked off her 4-year-old campaign in style, winning Sunday’s US$154,616 Whimsical Stakes (Can-III) at Woodbine by 2 1/4 lengths.

The six-furlong Polytrack event for older fillies and mares was the second stakes triumph for the Thunder Gulch filly, who also won the Selene Stakes (Can-III) at 1 1/16 miles last May. While the Ian Black trainee conquered the Selene with a crafty wire-to-wire trip, the Ontario-bred earned the US$92,348 share of the Whimsical purse with a stalking journey.

Down the backstretch, Seductively was nestled in between Hide and Chic, on the inside, and Spanish Lullaby, to her outside. Meanwhile, about 1 1/2 lengths in front of the winner, outsiders Summer Girlfriend and Cut the Mustard were in a serious tussle.

Jockey Gerry Olguin, who was aboard Seductively for both stakes tallies, said the filly was itching to join the front-end fray, which resulted in fractions of :22.87 and :46.60.

“She was aggressive. She wanted to climb over top of horses, actually. She settled in nicely, after about a quarter-mile, and she was just waiting for me to turn her loose,” said Olguin, who enjoyed a successful winter season at Santa Anita.

At the quarter pole, Olguin asked Seductively for her best and she delivered, seizing a 1 1/2-length lead inside the final furlong.

Hide and Chic, David Clark aboard, chased her home in the stretch, but was second best by 3 1/2 lengths. Despite the speed duel, Summer Girlfriend grudgingly stayed on for third, two lengths in front of the 4-5 favorite Vestrey Lady, who faded in the stretch under John McKee.

The final time for six furlongs was 1:12.27.

Black, who now has two wins and two seconds from five starts in 2007, wasn’t sure if his filly would be able to win at a distance that was shorter than her best.

“I was worried that we wouldn’t get up. She was sitting so comfortably behind those horses. It was a great performance,” said Black.

With the victory, Seductively raised her record to four wins from 14 starts and increased her earnings to CAN$508,445.

Seductively’s dam, Torrid Affair, finished second to Mysterious Affair in the 2001 edition of the Whimsical.

The third choice in a field of seven, Seductively returned $14.70, $6, $4.30. Combined with second favorite Hide and Chic ($4, $3.10), the exacta was worth $50.60. Summer Girlfriend ($9.40) completed a trifecta worth $523.20.

Vestrey Lady was followed by Cut the Mustard, Spanish Lullaby and Sudsy Baby. Bosskiri scratched.