Fashionably Fab draws off a convincing winner of the Ashbridges Bay (Michael Burns)
By Chris Lomon – Woodbine Communications
TORONTO— The Ontario Sire Heritage Series concluded Friday at Woodbine with Fashionably Fab winning the $100,000 Ashbridges Bay Stakes and Jim’s Hope taking the $100,000 Lake Ontario Stakes.
The 1 1/16-mile main track events, the Lake Ontario for Ontario sired 3-year-old colts and geldings, and the Ashbridges Bay, for Ontario sired 3-year-old fillies, completed the bonus-laden (a total of $70,000 was distributed to the connections of the top three horses in each division based on a points system, with $20,000 to first, $10,000 to second, and $5,000 to third) eight-leg stakes series held at Woodbine and Fort Erie racetracks. Ontario Racing and its Thoroughbred Improvement Program (TIP) Committee unveiled the series in 2021.
Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, Fashionably Fab, with Patrick Husbands in the irons, broke sharply and sat second, just to the outside of 33-1 leader Seattle Causeway in the Ashbridges Bay. Seattle Causeway hugged the rail and held a length advantage over Fashionably Fab through a tepid opening quarter in :25.28.
Seattle Causeway, still shadowed by Fashionably Fab, was just a head in front through a half in :49.67, but Husbands kept a patient hand on the daughter of Silent Name (JPN)-Flashy’s Legacy with the turn for home looming.
Husbands than gave Fashionably Fab her cue and she responded with an effortless turn of foot to seize control and dashed away from her pursuers with ease in early stretch. On top by two lengths at the stretch call, the dark bay filly poured it on late to win by 6 ½ lengths. Tito’s Calling, the 4-5 choice, was second, followed by Seattle Causeway. Veri Gizmo, Great Kate, and Souper Sinclair completed the order of finish. Silent Sky was scratched.
The final time was 1:44.34.
Husbands had no concern about having to dig in down the lane.
“I had so much horse,” said the veteran rider. “I was taking a hold and keeping her in the clear.”
Trained by Kevin Attard for owner and breeder Terra Racing, Fashionably Fab is now 6-0-2 from 10 career starts. It was the third straight stakes success for the dark bay, who won the Rondeau Bay at Fort Erie on September 12 and the Eternal Search on October 22.
“She’s a nice filly,” said Attard. “She showed a lot of talent as a young filly, and then just started to figure things out again here in the fall and it’s just nice to see.”
Last year, after a third to launch her career in September, Fashionably Fab won three straight races, including the Shady Well Stakes in December.
She paid $5.60 for today’s win.
