Woolly Bear, a four-year-old daughter of Proud Citizen campaigned by D. J. Reddington and S. D. Reddington, earned her first black type on Sunday with a second-place finish in the US$111,592 Avowal Stakes at Woodbine.
Issuing from the barn of Deborah England, Woolly Bear was making her sixth start of the year and second start in stakes company after a solid fourth-place finish in the Yaddo Stakes at Saratoga on August 20th. Woolly Bear’s last trip to the winner’s circle came after an authoritative two-length victory in a 6 ½-furlong first level allowance race on turf at Woodbine on July 18th with Chantal Sutherland aboard. The two teamed up again looking for the filly’s third career score in the seven-furlong turf contest, and went to the post as third choice in the wagering at odds of 4-to-1.
After a smooth break from post two, Woolly Bear looked extremely comfortable making the lead. The grey/roan filly ran the quarter in 23.44 and half in 46.48, with Glitter Box tracking a length, then a half-length, behind. Woolly Bear was still clear through the turn and into upper stretch with plenty of run, but was outmatched mid-drive as Glitter Box took command, leaving Woolly Bear to fend off the challenge of Sugar Bay, who closed quickly from the back of the eight-horse pack and came within a neck of second by the wire. With her first black type placing, Woolly Bear has now earned $147,261 and improved her record to 2-4-2 record from fourteen starts.
Bred by (and foaled at) Rojan Farms, Woolly Bear is one of five winners from six foals to race out of the winning Waquoit mare Lingquoit ($109,581), who was purchased by E. R. Bongard at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock sale in 2002 for $28,000. Woolly Bear sold as a weanling to D. J. Reddington at the 2006 edition of the same sale for $11,000. Four of Lingquoit’s winning offspring are New York-breds, including $154,000 earner King Glacken, by Smoke Glacken.
