She's A Great Lady shocker

Appleoosa Hanover, driven by Jody Jamieson, pulled off a major upset in the $754,500 She’s a Great Lady Stakes, Saturday evening at Mohawk Racetrack.

Avoiding some wild stretch action, Appleoosa Hanover came from first-over to defeat Luck of Michelle and Isabella Blue Chip for the shocking three-quarters of a length win, at 22-1, in a career best 1:53.3 for her co-owner and trainer Carl Jamieson.

Most fans figured either Cabana Fever or Lady Mattgalane, the only unbeaten two-year-old pacing fillies in the race, would duke it out for the win. And for most of the race, that’s exactly the way it unfolded for the two favourites.

Cabana Fever and driver Luc Ouellette shot to the front before the opening half-mile in a blazing :54.4 over a sloppy racetrack, while Lady Mattgalane and driver Ron Pierce were content to sit in the pocket. And that’s the way they continued after the three-quarters was reached in 1:24.2.

Then, suddenly, as Pierce tipped Lady Mattgalane out to challenge the leader in early stretch, the filly made a break, somewhat scattering the field and leaving Cabana Fever still in control.

However, Jamieson and Appleoosa Hanover were just able to steer clear of Lady Mattgalane and came charging, hauling down Luck of Michelle in the closing strides after the latter had passed Cabana Fever.

“All night, the speed on the front has been no good,” said Jamieson, a Dundas, Ontario resident celebrating his biggest win of his career, by about $500,000. “It’s just such a thrill, three-quarters of a million dollars. I knew they were pacing up front. I ended up being parked the whole way. I don’t think she deserved to be 22-1.

“Last week she came out of the 10-hole and just got beat a length in (1):52. Pierce kind of came out and I thought, I might be done. But my mare just kicked in again. At the head of the lane she straightened up and dug right in.”

It was the fourth win in eight starts for the daughter of Western Hanover, and her biggest payday by far. The $377,250 purse pushed her bankroll to $440,254.

“I got a cheap third quarter, but the second quarter was a little hard,” said Ouellette, about the 8-5 post time choice, Cabana Fever, who ultimately finished sixth, seven lengths in arrears. “Going towards the three-quarters pole, she was getting hit in the face with a lot of dirt. She didn’t seem to like that very much and she was a little empty finishing.” (WEG)

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