by Myra Lewyn
Van Lear Rose rallied strongly through the lane before overhauling favorite Livin Lovin in deep stretch to win the $254,293 Mazarine Stakes (Can-G3) for two-year-old fillies on Sunday at Woodbine.
The Stroll filly won by a half-length in a drive under Chantal Sutherland and covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.69 on Woodbine’s synthetic Polytrack surface.
Van Lear Rose earned her first graded stakes win after notching her first stakes win in her previous start in the seven-furlong Muskoka Stakes on September 1 at the Toronto track, where she has made each of her five career starts for trainer Catherine Day Phillips.
The Mazarine capped a four-win day for Sutherland, who also captured the card’s other two-year-old stakes when she piloted Mine That Bird to victory in the Grey Stakes (Can-G3).
Van Lear Rose relaxed in eighth in the ten-horse field as Georgia Song opened a clear led through an opening quarter in :24.33 and a half-mile in :48.72 while tracked by After the Applause, Livin Lovin, and Retraceable.
Livin Lovin, the 2.55-to-1 favorite under Ramon Dominguez, was well positioned in third and Van Lear Rose advanced to fifth as Georgia Song led by two lengths though six furlongs in 1:13.
Livin Lovin closed determinedly on the turn and rallied along the inside in upper stretch. She seized a half-length lead and maintained her advantage to deep stretch.
Van Lear Rose, who commenced her winning bid late on the turn, had plenty of energy in reserve for her first trip at the distance and wore down Livin Lovin for the victory.
Sutherland said the race set up as she expected.
“I had my eye on [Ramon] Dominguez [aboard Livin Lovin]. I thought she was the one to beat. I was a little wide, but there was really nowhere to get in. When I really needed her, she accelerated,” Sutherland said.
Livin Lovin finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of third-place finisher Georgia Song.
Van Lear Rose also has two second-place finishes from her five career starts, including in the Shady Well Stakes on July 13 in her stakes debut. Her career bankroll increased to $283,080.
Bred in Ontario by owner Kingview Farms, Van Lear Rose is out of the winning Conquistador Cielo mare Devaluation.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor