Miss Mo Mentum Metes Out Trillium Revenge

TORONTO, ON – After finishing a disappointing seventh as the beaten favorite in this race last year, Gary Barber’s Miss Mo Mentum meted out revenge with a strong-finishing effort in Sunday’s $125,000 Trillium Stakes (G3) at Woodbine.

Breaking from post 2 under Jerome Lermyte at 7/1 odds, Miss Mo Mentum took back and relaxed along the rail in mid-pack heading into the clubhouse turn. Ahead of her, the 2/1 favorite Tapa Tapa Tapa posted opening fractions of :24.70, :49.19, and 1:13.08.

Heading into the far turn, Lermyte tipped Miss Mo Mentum out and she began chasing to the front alongside her Mark Casse stablemate Summer Luck. Running four-wide at the top of the stretch, Miss Mo Mentum began reeling in Tapa Tapa Tapa steadily. Taking command near the 1/16 pole, Miss Mo Mentum drew off late before crossing the wire with a 1 1/4-length advantage in a final time of 1:43.30 for the 1 1/16-mile event over the fast all weather track.

“The speed was fast enough to be comfortable,” Lermyte said. “She doesn’t have early speed, but then she can get on the bridle, and she kind of did in the first turn, but then she relaxed pretty well. Mid-turn, I was starting to get really confident. She was showing me that she has a lot to give and she produced amazing acceleration and that made a difference.”

After putting forth a relentless run from last, Hot Cash was able to sneak up for second by a head over Dixie Moon, with Tapa Tapa Tapa giving way late and falling to fourth. Lunar Garden and Giovanna Blues were each a 1/2-length behind her, while She’s the Berries, Summer Luck, Bear Paw, and Ladies Night completed the order of finish.

Cartabianca was a stewards scratch.

Miss Mo Mentum’s win was her first since taking the 2018 edition of the Selene Stakes (G3) here and improved her overall record to 15-5-2-0. The 4-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo has now earned $271,866 to date.

Miss Mo Mentum returned $17.10 to win, $9.80 to place, and $4.90 to show. Hot Cash brought back $14.30 to place and $7.20 to show, while Dixie Moon paid $3.10 to show.