Donna Soprano defiant in $414,000 Elegantimage triumph

Donna Soprano showed her might in the $414,000 Elegantimage, battling back against Bella Bellini and re-taking the lead in the stretch to capture the stake for three-year-old harness racing trotting fillies on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The daughter of Donato Hanover fired early and bid for the lead entering the first turn, but Hp Mama B (Sylvain Filion) and Up And Ready (Doug McNair) outpaced the filly in a :27.3 first quarter mile and forced her into the three-hole. McClure ordered Donna Soprano to abandon her seat and guided her to the front as the ten-horse field travelled down the backstretch.

Donna Soprano acquired command just past three-eighths and trotted to a :56.3 half. Hambletonian Oaks winner Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn), the 3/5 choice, left the pylons in the second quarter and soared into open air, passing the leader as they entered the last turn. She cleared Donna Soprano at three-quarters and opened up by two at headstretch, but the former leader found more trot at the eighth pole and resurged at the pylons.

With both fillies in a full-out drive, Donna Soprano prevailed by half-length in 1:52.3. Bella Bellini held second over third-place finisher Katies Lucky Day (Scott Zeron).

DONNA SOPRANO REPLAY

Donna Soprano, the 2020 Two-year-old Pacing Filly of the Year at the O’Brien Awards is now eight-for-15 in her career and has amassed $962,155 in earnings. Luc Blais trains her for Determination. She has won two stakes races in a row after her win in the $160,260 Simcoe on Sep. 10.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink