08/01...Harlequin Ranches' FREE FEE LADY (Victory Gallop), bred by Highfield Stock Farm, captured her second Canadian-bred fillies' classic when battling to a neck victory in Sunday's $243,904 Wonder Where S. at Woodbine. An upset winner of the Bison City S. in her previous start for trainer Reade Baker, the Alberta-bred garnered more respect as the 8-5 second choice in this turf debut. After pressing the early pace with Emma-Jayne Wilson, Free Fee Lady took command in the stretch, thwarted the late bid of Happy Clapper (Awesome Again), and clocked 2:03 2/5 for 1 1/4 firm-turf miles. "Down the backside, I thought she'd just gallop," Baker said. "I thought she'd win easy. But she got a heck of a ride to win. They were closing in on her." Pacesetter Bodua (North Light [Ire]) salvaged third, a neck ahead of 3-2 favorite Somme (Theatrical [Ire]). Free Fee Lady, who just missed in her May 22 career debut, has now won three straight and has bankrolled $337,691. Baker admitted that he originally didn't have high expectations for the filly. "Leroy (Trotman), my assistant, did," Baker said. "I was going to run her for a tag the first time. She only cost ($28,566 at the Alberta August sale). I didn't think she was that good. But after her first race, there wasn't going to be any claiming."...Brisnet
07/11/10...Harlequin Ranches' FREE FEE LADY (Victory Gallop) swept past 1-10 favorite Embur's Song (Unbridled's Song) in the stretch to pull the upset in Sunday's $241,851 Bison City Stakes at Woodbine. Bred in Alberta by Highfield Stock Farm and David Munro, Free Fee Lady was a US$28,548 yearling auction purchase at Alberta in August 2008. In view of the fact that she had just broken her maiden sprinting seven furlongs, and had never faced winners or raced two turns, the Alberta-bred went off as the longest shot on the board at 15-1. The Reade Baker pupil was more than ready, however, for her assignment in the Canadian-bred fillies' classic. Free Fee Lady was well placed in third by Emma-Jayne Wilson, watching the leading Embur's Song being pestered by Oil Painting (Distorted Humor). Once Embur's Song shook free of Oil Painting, she was accosted by Free Fee Lady. Dismissing her heavily-favored rival, Free Fee Lady surged clear to win handily by four lengths. The dark bay stopped the teletimer in 1:44 for 1 1/16 Polytrack miles to advance her record to 3-2-1-0, $191,816...Brisnet
