Daring Duchess Wires $100,000 Flaming Page

TORONTO, ON – Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Daring Duchess set the lead early and then kicked away late to wire the field of seven in Saturday’s $100,000 Flaming Page Stakes at Woodbine.

Bursting to the lead from the rail under Rafael Hernandez, Daring Duchess was unpressured and allowed to plod along through slow opening fractions of :27.36, :54.09, 1:19.08, and 1:43.12 through the opening mile. Though she came under pressure from Get Explicit down the backside and into the far turn, Daring Duchess rebroke at the top of the stretch and found another gear. The Mike Maker trainee drew off in the final stages to win by 3 3/4 growing lengths in a final time of 2:31.16 for the 1 1/2-mile turf event.

“We got slow fractions and she just did the rest,” Hernandez said. “She did everything good the first 1/4 (mile), the 1/2 – they were slow – so I knew the horse was going to have a lot for the end. If anybody was coming, she’s going to pick it up and keep going.”

Get Explicit was unable to keep up with the winner but still separated from the rest of the pack, taking second by another 3 3/4 lengths. The 3/2 favorite Creative Thinking was never much of a threat and just headed Giovanna Blues at the wire. Galileo Gal, Liberty Kitten, and Daddy’s Great Bay completed the order of finish. Lottie was scratched.

Daring Duchess’ win was her first of the year and increased her overall record to 27-6-5-2 with earnings of $404,703. The 6-year-old daughter of Arch has now recorded at least one victory in each season of racing.

“We got the perfect trip today: clean out of the gate and slow fractions,” said assistant trainer Nolan Ramsey. “Her running style is going to the front and that’s what she likes to do. After the first 1/4 mile, I could see how relaxed she was, and the rest was history.”

Daring Duchess returned $9.10 to win, $4.50 to place, and $2.90 to show. Get Explicit brought back $5.80 to place and $3.50 to show, while Creative Thinking paid $2.50 to show.