Skylander Girl enjoyed a perfect trip under Jim McAleney en route to her second stakes score in Saturday’s $140,000 Ontario Debutante Stakes, at Woodbine.
Owned and trained by Alex Patykewich, the dark bay daughter of Stroll was glued to the flank of pace-setting favourite Conquest Whiplash through the turn before taking command down the lane to score a 2 1/2-length victory in the six furlong ‘Poly’ stake for two-year-old fillies.
Skylander Girl, bred in Ontario by Auchamore Stud, finished second on debut in a June 8 maiden allowance event. She broke her maiden in style next time out with a three-length score in the My Dear Stakes, setting up a fourth-place run in the Shady Well Stakes, in which she endured a troubled start.
Conquest Whiplash, the 3-5 mutuel favourite set splits of :23.07 and :46.01 in the Ontario Debutante with Skylander Girl hot on her heels. McAleney urged Skylander Girl to the lead at the top of the lane and the filly galloped out a convincing winner in a final running time of 1:11.05. Sweetsoutherndame closed along the rail to earn the place money over Madly Truly.
McAleney noted that Skylander Girl was racing against the odds in the Shady Well when fourth, defeated less than four lengths.
“We were seventh of ten in post positions and we got hung wide in the turn,” recalled McAleney. “It was a race that didn’t unfold well, but she has so much class and pride that we didn’t get beat that far.”
In the Ontario Debutante, McAleney made certain to engineer a perfect tracking trip.
“When we left there (the gate), I was able to get her back a couple lengths and switch to the outside so we had a nice clean trip,” said McAleney. “Once she saw daylight, she kicked on. She’s so competitive we were right on that filly’s throat (Conquest Whiplash) right from the get go. To be able to kick on in the first part of a race like that just shows the talent and ability that she’s got.”
Skylander Girl banked $90,000 in victory, while improving her record to 2-1-0 from four career starts.
She returned $6.60, $3.80 and $4.10, pairing with Sweetsoutherndame ($7.70, $5.10) for a $53.50 (4-1) exactor. A 4-1-3 (Madly Truly, $4.10 to show) triactor was worth $137.60. Spanish Flower was scratched.
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