Holy Helena heads a competitive 62nd edition of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser, Sunday at Woodbine.
The filly classic, which attracted 12 Canadian-foaled three-year-old fillies carrying 121 pounds over one mile and one-eighth on the Tapeta, will go postward at 5:29 p.m. The winner receives $300,000.
In addition, the $150,000 Plate Trial (at 4:24 p.m.), also at one and one-eighth miles on Tapeta features the top three Queen’s Plate Winterbook choices Tiz a Slam, King and His Court and State of Honor. Canada’s most famous horse race, The Queen’s Plate, is scheduled for Sunday, July 2.
Holy Helena, a Stronach Stables homebred daughter of Ghostzapper trained by James Jerkens, is lightly raced but boasts a field-best 86 Beyer Speed Figure from her impressive maiden score on May 12 at Belmont Park. Sent to post at odds of 8-1 on that day, she battled on the lead in the 1 1/16-mile main track maiden allowance and prevailed by three-quarters of a length in a determined effort.
“I was kind of worried. I didn’t think I had enough time to prepare her for it,” said Jerkens of the maiden score. “I never worked her a long distance but I put a couple of shorter works close together and sometimes that’s good. She was relentless that day. She was resolute, kept coming and showed gameness. That’s a big part of the battle with horses is having them show the desire.”
On Sunday, Holy Helena will stretch out to nine furlongs while making her third career start. Jerkens is confident the dark bay filly will appreciate the added ground.
“I think so. It’s only her third start but she acts like it,” said Jerkens. “She has a half-brother (Holy Boss) who is a nice horse, but he’s a sprinter by Street Boss and most of them are sprinters. It looks like the mare is a nice mare and anything that comes out of her will be able to run to some degree.
“She (Holy Helena) is built long and has nice scope to her,” continued Jerkens. “Ghostzapper stock can certainly go the distance. And the first two starts suggest that will be her forte. This is in the natural progression, I think. It’s probably not as a big a jump as it looks.”
Holy Helena shipped into Woodbine earlier in the week to the barn of trainer Mike Doyle who is racing manager for Stronach Stables. The filly breezed five furlongs, with jockey Luis Contreras up, on June 6 in a quick 1:00.80 in her final prep for the Oaks.
“I talk to Mike every day and he says she’s really taken to it. The jock worked her and he said she handled it fine. It’s a big help,” said Jerkens.
Holy Helena trained at Woodbine briefly last season but never raced. On Sunday, she will look to make her Canadian debut a winning one.
“She drew a nice post. I’ve looked at the past performances and its tough enough, but she looks like she’s improving quickly and with all that money hanging up there it’s worth a shot,” said Jerkens.
Fellow U.S. based contenders Stallion Heiress and Inflexibility are expected to take a lot of interest on the tote board.
Stallion Heiress, trained by Michael Stidham for Stallionaire Enterprises, went undefeated in three starts at the Fair Grounds taking the both the Broussard Memorial and LaCombe Memorial in gate-to-wire fashion. Last time out, in the Grade 3 Edgewood at Churchill Downs, Stallion Heiress set a swift early tempo before fading to tenth. Florent Geroux will ride.
Inflexibility, a bay daughter of Scat Daddy trained by Chad Brown, has raced just twice but arrives at the Oaks from a visually impressive score in a 1 1/16-mile maiden turf allowance at Belmont Park. Joel Rosario, aboard for the maiden win, ships in to ride.
Enstone, trained by Mark Casse for East West Stables, is the most accomplished of the locally-based Oaks fillies with a record of two wins and four seconds from eight starts including a victory in the seven furlong Fury Stakes.
Last time out, in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Selene Stakes, Enstone raced on the engine and was only collared in the final stride by the well-regarded Irish-bred Grizzel. Patrick Husbands retains the mount.
“I thought she ran great but she just got beat by a better horse that day. She had a good ride and there were no excuses. I thought she ran very well,” said Kathryn Sullivan, assistant trainer for Casse.
FIELD FOR THE $500,000 WOODBINE OAKS, PRESENTED BY BUDWEISER
POST / HORSE / JOCKEY / TRAINER
1 / Stallion Heiress / Florent Geroux / Michael Stidham
2 / Inflexibility / Joel Rosario / Chad Brown
3 / Gertie T / Rafael Hernandez / Norm McKnight
4 / Ghostly Presence / Steve Bahen / Roger Attfield
5 / Holy Helena / Luis Contreras / James Jerkens
6 / Inspired Vow / Gary Boulanger / Mark Casse
7 / Miss Adele / David Moran / Roger Attfield
8 / Financial Recovery / Mike Smith / Catherine Day Phillips
9 / Enstone / Patrick Husbands / Mark Casse
10 / Mythical Mission / Eurico Rosa da Silva / Malcolm Pierce
11 / Ellan Vannin / Jeffrey Alderson / Tony M. Gattellaro
12 / Cindervella / Jesse Campbell / Mike DePaulo
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