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Atlantic Hurricane and jockey Emile Ramsammy head to the winner's circle after the Bessarabian Stakes.

One of the last graded stakes of the year in Canada is the $150,000 Bessarabian Stakes (G3), a 7 furlong Polytrack sprint for older fillies and mares. A field of 10 went to post on Sunday afternoon, in a race that will likely decide who will win the Sovereign Award as the 2011 Champion Female Sprinter. The race was contested under dark overcast skies with temperatures in the lower 40's with 20 mile per hour wind gusts. Embur's Song, winner of the Hendrie (G3) and Ontario Matron (G3) earlier in the season, was sent off as the 3-2 favorite off an 11th place finish in the Spinster (G1) at Keeneland. In to challenge her included 3-1 second choice Atlantic Hurricane, winner of the Seaway (G3) and Ontario Fashion Stakes, and 7-2 third choice Ariana D, third in the Ontario Fashion after winning the Avowal Stakes.

Atlantic Hurricane draws off in the stretch

Jockey Gerry Olguin sent 54-1 longshot Moonlit Beauty to the lead exiting the chute and she set quick fractions of 22.58 and 45.18 over the fast Polytrack while pressed by 8-1 Zermatt. Entering the stretch, Moonlite Beauty and Zermatt both tired, as Atlantic Hurricane, who stalked them third early, inherited the lead, getting 3/4 in 1:09.52. 29-1 Mullins Beach, 4th early, gave chase to no avail, as Atlantic Hurricane widened her lead under a hand ride to win by 5 lengths in 1:21.77. It was another 2 lengths back to late-running favorite Embur's Song third.

 #  Horse                Jockey          Win  Place   Show
 9  Atlantic Hurricane   Ramsammy       8.60   4.50   3.40
 5  Mullins Beach        Stein                16.40   7.30
 6  Embur's Song         Husbands                     2.60

Winning Time:  1:21.77

$2 Exacta  (9-5) paid             194.60
$2 Trifecta (9-5-6) paid        1,077.80
$1 Superfecta (9-5-6-7) paid    2,437.20

Left: Atlantic Hurricane in the winner's circle with trainer and co-owner Stuart Simon. Simon said, "I had a lot of faith in her today, she's probably better than she's been all year. You're still leery, because you have to run the race and things can happen, but I'm so confident in her right now."

Right: Atlantic Hurricane in the post parade. With regular rider Emile Ramsammy aboard, the daughter of Halo's Image improved her record to 8 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third in 15 starts, earning $431,120 for owners B. and R. McLellan, C. Hollick, and Stuart Simon.

Left: Second place finisher Mullins Beach heads out of the paddock. The 29-1 longshot stalked the pace in 4th 3 1/2 lengths back under new jockey Justin Stein, then passed tiring horses late to get second beaten 5 lengths. The Josie Carroll trainee improved her record to 7 wins, 5 seconds, and 3 thirds in 23 starts, earning $499,532 for owner-breeder Eugene Melnyk.

Right: Third place finisher and beaten favorite Embur's Song in the post parade. The 3-2 favorite raced in midpack 5th 4 lengths back under regular rider Patrick Husbands, came out 4 wide into the lane but could not gain, finishing 3rd beaten 7 lengths. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved her record to 6 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds in 13 starts, earning $617,464 for owner Fares Farm.

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