Saturday’s 17th edition of the seven-furlong RULING ANGEL STAKES, an overnight event for three-year-old fillies, has lured a few Canadian/Ontario-bred fillies who have the prestigious Woodbine Oaks on their date card. The Oaks is just over two months away on July 20 (see Canadian Thoroughbred‘s Top 10 list below) and this race, the June 7 Fury, also at seven furlongs, and the June 28 Selene Stakes (an open race) are the three possible stakes that owners of Oaks contenders may use to get to the $500,000 classic.
The Ruling Angel, open to horses bred anywhere, has yet to produce an Oaks winner, although some starters have done well in the race. Saskawea, the 2007 winner, finished second in that year’s Oaks.
Ruling Angel was a brilliant filly for Sam-Son Farms, winning five stakes races as a two-year-old and placing in two Grade 1’s in the U.S. that same year (1986). She was named Horse of the Year and Champion two-year-old filly in Canada. The daughter of Vice Regent won 12 of 26 races and over $700,000.
There are 10 entrants in this year’s Ruling Angel, which is race 7 of 9 at Woodbine on May 17. However two fillies trained by Josie Carroll, Hibiscus and Madame Obey, were both cross-entered in Sunday’s King Corrie Stakes, a similar overnight race at seven furlongs for males.
In addition to Hibiscus, the three Oaks hopefuls in the field are ARISTELLA, the Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner, WAR SIGNAL, who won an allowance race at Gulfstream in January and CRYSTAL VISIONS, third in the Princess Elizabeth.
Aristella, a daughter of classic sire More Than Ready, is owned by American stable Flying Zee Racing and trained by Rachel Halden. All five of her races have come around two turns and she will be on Lasix for her first sprint. Aristella trained at Payson Park during the winter and Patrick Husbands will ride.
War Signal could become Casse’s fourth consecutive winner of the Ruling Angel. Gary Barber’s homebred by War of Will was third in the Shady Well Stakes to Pop Idol and then she won a pair of route races on Tapeta including a Jan. 5 race at Gulfstream. She has been training in Ocala and has good prep times at Woodbine. Sahin Civaci is named.
Crystal Visions, owned by trainer Stuart Simon and Brett McLellan, was a debut winner last summer at 5 1/2 furlongs and then a good third despite trouble to Artistella in the Princess Elizabeth. The daughter of Bee Jersey has Ryan Munger on board.
The Ruling Angel favourite is likely to be Star Shoot Stakes winner BRINDI (Ire), who battled on the pace and won her Woodbine debut by 1 3/4 lengths for trainer Kelsey Danner. Her natural speeds under jockey Sofia Vives will come in handy, as many of her rivals are stretch runners.
SOMETHINGABOUTHER, winner of the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes last fall at Woodbine, ships in for Brendan Walsh and she is also racing first time with Lasix. Pietro Moran will ride the daughter of Mendelssohn, who was third in the Cincinnati Trophy at Turfway in February and recently eighth in the Bourbonnete Stakes.
Star Shoot third-place finisher SOCIAL CODE has worked quickly since her season opener for trainer Steve Flint and CamHaven Farm. Jason Hoyte will ride.
Canadian Thoroughbred’s TOP 10 Woodbine Oaks Contenders
1. Love and Poetry – trained by Cherie Deveaux, 2nd LaCombe Memorial on turf, FG
2. Shifty – won 2025 debut at Woodbine, 85 Beyer Speed Figure, Catch a Glimpse S., 3rd Grade 3 Grey.
3. War Signal – Gulfstream winner
4. Aristella – won Princess Elizabeth, Rachel Halden trainer
5. Crystal Visions – 3rd Mazarine S. (G3)
6. Street Princess – maiden winner
7. Hibiscus – well-regarded maiden
8. Double Velocity – sold following debut win at Keeneland, unplaced in next start
9. Bit of Music – maiden winner
10. Ready for Candy – stakes-placed, no works 2025
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Woodbine Expands Racing Schedule, New Thursday Post Time
As the 2025 Thoroughbred season at Woodbine Racetrack enters its fourth week, Fridays are set to be added to the live racing schedule, while Thursdays will be added next week with an updated post time.
Thursday post time has been moved up to 3 p.m. from the previous 4:50 p.m. The first Thursday race card of the season will be on May 22.
Starting this week, fans can enjoy live Thoroughbred racing every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with a first-race post time of 1:05 p.m. This week’s first Friday race card of the season will feature eight races. To view the free program, click here.
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