Financingavailable Wires Field at Woodbine

(Edited press release)
Finacingavailable, a five-year-old daughter of Kiridashi, wired her rivals as the 1-5 favorite, in taking the $125,000 Classy'N Smart Stakes that was part of Monday's Thanksgiving Day program at Canada's Woodbine Racecourse.

Jockey Jim McAleney sent the gray mare straight to the front in the 1 1/16-mile Polytrack race, with Coastal Fortress pressing the issue to the outside through early fractions of :23.53 and :46.97.

After three-quarters in 1:11.64, Financingavailable toyed with her rivals, going on to a 4 1/2-length score under a hand ride. The final time was 1:44.57.

Owned by K.K. Sangara and trained by Lorne Richards, the Ontario-bred took her fourth win from six starts in 2006 and third consecutive stake, after triumphs in the Victoriana, on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, and the Algoma, the latter over the Polytrack on September 4.

"There was certainly a lot more pressure than I thought we'd have to endure," said regular pilot McAleney, who won his 11th Woodbine stakes on the campaign. "I was able to give this filly a nice breather around the turn and wait for someone to take a run at her. She's special."

Richards was equally pleased with the effort from Financingavailable, who has not finished lower than second since a third-place finish in the Zadracarta Stakes last June. "She's in pretty good shape right now. She's pretty versatile."

Financingavailable, who has stamped herself as a legitimate contender for a Sovereign Award as Canada's top older female, now has 10 wins, four seconds and three thirds from 19 lifetime starts.

"I got a little worried that I'd get her beat by being here," said British Columbia-based Sangara, who tabs Financingavailable as the best horse he's owned.

She paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10, combining with Archie's Gal ($5.20, $2.80) for a $19.60 exacta. Schooner Bay paid $2.40 to show. Lil'miss Mischief and Dame Eliza were late scratches.

(Chart, Equibase)