by Ashley Mayotte, WEG communications
Toronto, ON — Nineteen 3-year-old pacing fillies trucked to Woodbine on Friday evening (Dec. 2) to contest two eliminations for this year’s Autumn Stakes, but with a pair of longshots, it was driver Mike Saftic who stole the show. Saftic guided both Shadys Art and Machs Delicacy to victory.
In the first C$25,000 tilt, Shadys Art pulled off a 22-1 shocker for trainer George Hunt.

Shadys Art was a 22-1 longshot winner.
Lucky Taryn (Anthony MacDonald) showed early speed off the gate, leading the field into the first turn, but Lyons Puddin Pie (Chris Christoforou), who was parked out, drove on, clocking the :27 opening panel. The heavy favorite remained the tempo-setter, hitting the half in :55.4, then the three-quarters in 1:25.1.
In deep stretch, Lucky Taryn angled out from the pocket and tracked down the leader, but it was Shadys Art who found open racetrack and some late speed to score the triumph by a half-length in 1:54.1. At 29-1, Lucky Taryn finished second with Lyons Puddin Pie holding on for third. Also advancing to the final is fourth-place finisher Missmachrts (Phil Hudon) and Charolettes Maggie (Paul MacDonell), who was fifth.
“Trainer George Hunt said she tied up last week so, she should be better this week,” Saftic said following the win. “I thought I would just score her out and get her away close. She can always get home good.
“Once I got out and shook loose, I thought I was going to pick up the ones in front of me,” added the Campbellville resident. “She came home strong.”
After going winless in four starts as a rookie, the pacing miss has put together a 4-2-3 record in 24 starts this season. The daughter of Modern Art-Shadys Fg has banked $62,891 to date for owner and breeder Marvyn Walter McKee.
Shadys Art returned $46.80 to win.
The Nicky Comegna-trained Machs Delicacy scored by a head in the second elimination in a new lifetime mark of 1:54.4.

New Image Media photos
Machs Delicacy (#7) held off Carly Hollywood (#6) by a head.
Highland Candy Bar (Garrett Whelan) was the leader past the first quarter in :26.4 as a parked out Medway Flashpoint (Doug McNair) was taken to the front. Also parked was Machs Delicacy. She made a bid for the lead, but was unable to clear. The bay poked a head in front to clock the half in :56.1, but Medway Flashpoint regained the lead before the three-quarter marker in 1:25.1.
As the nine fillies turned for home, Machs Delicacy, at odds of 5-1, was able to dig in and hold off the hard closing 6-5 favorite, Carly Hollywood (Sylvain Filion). Fire Fox (Rick Zeron) rounded out the triactor. Also advancing to the final is fourth-place finisher Highland Candy Bar and Ground Shaker (Mario Baillargeon), who was fifth.
“I told trainer Nicky Comegna I was going to try leaving with her a little bit and change her game plan up,” Saftic said. “We got parked every step, but she hung tough. Halfway down the lane, she dug in and got the job done.”
The reinsman also stated he will be selecting Machs Delicacy to drive in the final.
The bay, who was unraced at two, now has a lifetime record of 3-2-2 in 26 starts for owner Bruno Comegna. The daughter of Mach Three-Armbro Caviar has stashed away $67,215 in career earnings.
Machs Delicacy paid $13.40 to win.
The top five finishers advance to the Autumn Stakes final, which is slated for Friday (Dec. 9). Elimination winners have earned the privilege to select their post positions for the C$60,000 final.
Here’s how the sophomore fillies will line up behind the gate: 1. Carly Hollywood, 2. Fire Fox, 3. Shadys Art, 4. Machs Delicacy, 5. Charolettes Maggie, 6. Lucky Taryn, 7. Highland Candy Bar, 8. Lyons Puddin Pie, 9. Missmachrts, and 10. Ground Shaker. AE: Medway Flashpoint.