Miss Crissy Wins Fanfreluche at Woodbine

Harlequin Ranch's Miss Crissy, with jockey Steven Bahen aboard, made a late rail-skimming run to capture Sunday's $163,500 Fanfreluche Stakes at Woodbine.

The daughter of Bold n' Flashy entered the six furlong event for 2-year-old fillies foaled in Canada off a recent victory in the Victorian Queen Stakes on Oct. 2. Trained by Emile Allain, the Ontario-bred was looking for her third career win in the Fanfreluche.

The usual front-runner was caught between horses in the early going, and was forced to race from off the pace. When Bahen asked his filly for run around the turn, she responded with a good rally along the inside. Eventually engaging front runners Buffalo Jump and Le Petite Justice, Bahen directed Miss Crissy along the inside to take the event by a half-length.

The time of the race was 1:11.92 over a main track rated fast.

"I got in a little tight, and she actually relaxed a little bit," said Bahen. "She's got a lot of heart this filly, she'll run her eyeballs out when she has to. Right now, I think she'll go as far and as long as you want to her to go."

With the victory, Allain became the first trainer in the 22-year history of the Fanfreluche Stakes to win back-to-back editions. Miss Noire won the race in 2001.

"When she began training, she did everything quite impressively," said Allain. "At the beginning, I thought she'd be good, but I didn't know she'd be a stakes horse. It's likely to be her last race of the year, but we'll see over the next couple of days."

Miss Crissy returned $5.10, $2.80, $2.90 combining with Buffalo Jump ($6.70, $4.20) for a $33.90 exacta. Elusive Thought ($4.60) completed the $410.70 trifecta.

(Chart, Equibase)