Bellamy Road’s Sisterly Love scored her second consecutive gate-to-wire stakes win in capturing the $151,500 Ontario Matron S.(G3) Saturday at Woodbine.
Sisterly Love’s victory in the mile and one-sixteenth affair for fillies and mares came on the heels of her June 8 score in the Trillium S., when she romped by 8 1/2-lengths, also over Woodbine’s Polytrack.
Five-year-old Sisterly Love continued the strong stakes showings this week for Bellamy Road, coming three days after Rivertown Belle scored a big win in the $150,000 Indiana First Lady S.
Controlling things from the outset, Sisterly Love led the field of seven through fractions of 24.03, 48.38 and 1:12.05. Once the field turned for home, Sisterly Love opened four lengths on her pursuers while under a hand-ride by Eurico Rosa da Silva. At the wire, the winner prevailed by three and one-half lengths in a time of 1:43.41.
“We were concerned, the horse outside (Welcome Dance) has a lot of speed, too,” said Rosa da Silva. “But it worked out very good for us. She broke very well and made the pace. She never stopped running. She’s a very nice filly.”
Trained by Mark Casse, Sisterly Love won for the fifth time in only eight career starts after not getting to the races at two or three. She won her first three outings last fall and early winter at Calder and Gulfstream Park before being purchased by Barber.
“We were fortunate. Gary bought her after her first three starts and it took us a little while to figure her out,” said winning trainer Mark Casse. “But she ran well today. Like Eurico said, I was a little concerned with the outside horse, too. There seemed to be a little more speed today (than when she won the Trillium). But we just decided we’re going to go running and if somebody else really wants it (the lead), fine.”
Sisterly Love, who picked up a pot of $90,000, lifted her career bankroll to $280,100. Bred in Kentucky by Kinsman Farm, she is out of the Dixieland Band mare Odyllic, whose siblings include Grade 1 Met Mile winner Dixie Brass and multiple Grade 2 winner Odyle.
