TORONTO– Clarinet blew by rival Janicellaine in deep stretch to earn her first added-money score in Saturday’s $100,200 Flaming Page Stakes, at Woodbine.
The dark bay daughter of Giant’s Causeway-Legs Lawlor, trained by Josie Carroll for owner Earle I. Mack, tracked Janicellaine throughout the about 1 1/2-mile turf tilt, under rider Eurico Rosa da Silva, and kicked on down the lane to notch a 1 1/4-length score in a final running time of 2:32.35. Janicellaine held on for second, 2 1/4-lengths in front of Smart Penny.
Da Silva was thrilled with the trip he orchestrated for Clarinet.
“I tried to not be too far away,” explained da Silva. “I did move a little early as I was very concerned about the speed. But, she only got stronger and stronger. She ran a beautiful race.”
The five-year-old mare was making her first start under Carroll’s care, following a fifth-place run in the John W. Rooney Memorial Stakes for conditioner Graham Motion on June 2, at Delaware Park.
“She’s been a very simple filly to deal with,” said Carroll. “The trick was to get her fit enough to go this far first time out. We put some pretty solid works into her. When she works, the further she goes the better she gets. This certainly seemed to be the spot to try.”
Clarinet banked $60,000 in victory, while improving her record to four wins and a second from 10 lifetime starts.
She paid $22.30, $9.10 and $4, combining with Janicellaine ($4.60, $3) for a $130 (5-3) exactor. A 5-3-6 (Smart Penny, $2.80 to show) triactor was worth $467.90 while a $1 superfecta [5-3-6-2 (Wild Strike)] came back $775.55.