2022 Ontario Fashion Stakes Value Play

A six-pack of fillies and mares will go postward in Saturday’s $150,000 Ontario Fashion S. (G3) at Woodbine. The race is led by morning-line choice #1 Hazelbrook (6-5), who comes in having won three of her four starts in 2022, topped by a tally in the Hendrie S. (G3). While the Bayern four-year-old can surely win this affair, I feel inclined to find more value in the well-matched cast.

Stakes vixen #6 Marie MacKay (8-1) has raced her way back into shape this campaign following a six-month absence and appears to be sitting on a big effort for conditioner Daniel Vella. The daughter of Noble Mission is winless in 2022 but has displayed excellent early foot on each occasion, and I think she can shake loose on this occasion with a heady ride from Patrick Husbands, who represents a major jockey upgrade on the filly.

Marie MacKay is a dual winner at Woodbine and comes off of a stubborn third in a local allowance tilt at five furlongs. The Ontario-bred will force the pace from the break prior to opening up an edge turning for home at a nice price.

Hazelbrook is a top-three must use while in superb form for Lorne Richards. She possesses a fine turn of foot and is five-for-eight lifetime, all on this track. The $50,000 weanling purchase split a fine duo in the recent Seaway S. (G3) at seven-eighths last time out, and will appreciate the move back to six panels in this test. Regular pilot Jason Hoyte will be in the silks once again.

#2 Beyond Mybudget (3-1) lacks consistency overall, but the Munnings mare went close to the favorite two races prior and would be an obvious factor with a similar performance on Saturday. The five-year-old bay has won or placed in eight of her 11 tries on the course and could peak while making her third run since January. Declan Carroll will ride and have the mare stalking the tempo from the opening bell.

• $15 win and place: #6 Marie MacKay ($30)
• $4 exacta: key box 6 with 1, 2 ($16)
• $2 trifecta: 6 with 1, 2 with all ($16)