Toronto, Ontario – A determined effort from Half Heaven, the longest shot on the board at 42-1, landed the daughter of Regal Classic in the winner’s circle in the $100,000 River Memories, the last of three stakes on the October 28th racing card at Woodbine.
Half Heaven, a bay four-year-old owned by David Cassidy and Ed Lipton, fought back valiantly to best mutuel favourite and multiple stakes winner Financingavailable, by a neck. Be Envied finished third.
The final time was 1:43.22 for the mile and 70 yards race, a dash originally carded for a mile on the turf, but contested over the Polytrack.
It was the New York-bred’s fifth career victory in 19 starts.
Having run all her previous races on turf, trainer Arthur Silvera seriously considered scratching the horse, but was glad he didn’t.
Emile Ramsammy, who engineered a perfect trip, earned his fifth Woodbine stakes victory of the season.
Half Heaven paid $86.20, $26.50 and $16.40 across the board and combined with Financingavailable ($3.60, $2.80) for a $280.40 exactor. Be Envied ($8.80) completed a $4,362.90 triactor.
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