Pure Ivory winner makes victorious sophomore debut

Stubborn Chee (Muscle Hill), who won last year’s Pure Ivory at two, won her three-year-old debut on Thursday (May 9) at Woodbine Mohawk Park in a conditioned harness racing contest.

The filly slotted in fifth to the quarter in :27.4 and picked up a place due to a breaking rival, reaching the half fourth on the cones in :58.2. James MacDonald sent her into the breeze approaching the final turn, and she pulled alongside leader Musical Ride (Sylvain Filion) at three-quarters in 1:27.2.

Stubborn Chee indeed proved obstinate, pushing past the pacesetter in mid-stretch. Rock Climber rolled up in the final 1/16th of a mile, but Stubborn Chee was all wrapped up as she completed the victory with a three-quarter-length margin in 1:55.1.

Rock Climber, who came off the winner’s cover, was second. Musical Ride was home in third easily with more than six lengths between him and the next horse.

STUBBORN CHEE REPLAY

Stubborn Chee’s only win at two came in the Pure Ivory Final; she broke in all but one of her other five starts, including the Peaceful Way Final. Matt Bax trains the Al Libfeld homebred, who has earned $55,500 and won twice in seven tries.

Another high-class Bax filly, Kinnder Hotblood (Kadabra) made it three straight wins with a dominant performance. The filly cruised to the lead on the first turn and was never headed in a five-length romp, stopping the clock in 1:55.4 in another tally for MacDonald.

KINNDER HOTBLOOD REPLAY

Kinnder Hotblood also suffered gait issues at two but has stayed flat in all four starts this season. She won the Ontario-sired Spring Series Final last out and is now four-for-10 with $57,063 in the bank. Bax Stable, David Hudson, Gaelic Stable 2, and The Cavalier Stable own the sophomore.

MacDonald completed the night with four wins.

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, May 10 with a 12-dash program starting at 7:10 p.m. EDT. The feature is the third-race Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink