The $500,000 WOODBINE OAKS highlights a big card of racing at Woodbine on Sunday, July 24, which also includes the $125,000 PLATE TRIAL. Both the Oaks and the Trial will go a long way to sift out contenders for the premier race in Canada, the Queen’s Plate, which is on August 21.
Trainer Kevin Attard is in a good position to win his second straight Oaks with MOIRA, a Ghostzapper filly owned by the syndicates X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables LLC (Sol Kumin), and SF Bloodstock.
Moira is the only stakes winner on the list of 10 possible starters from Canadian Thoroughbred.
X-Men Racing arrived in 2021, a group formed by noted bloodstock agent and Canadian-born Donato Lanni. X-Men Racing combined forces with US-based syndicates Madaket and SF Bloodstock to purchase Moira at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale for $150,000 from Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs.
Produced from the Unbridled’s Song mare Devine Aida, a stakes winner in Florida and graded stakes-placed, Moira had an eye-catching debut win last October as she blew away nine rival fillies in the Princess Elizabeth, the top race for Canadian-bred juvenile fillies in the country. She came back to be a close second in the Grade 3 Mazarine to Mrs. Barbara before going on her winter vacation.
In her return to racing on June 11, Moira won the seven-furlong Fury Stakes with a wide rally. She has had three workouts since then including two big moves at six furlongs.
The main competition for Moira could come from recent maiden winner SISTER SEAGULL, a stretch runner for Sean and Dorothy Fitzhenry trained by Catherine Day Phillips. New to Woodbine should she ship north would be the expensive gal SAHLABIYA, placed in two starts on the grass in New York for trainer Chad Brown. The filly was a $1.6 million yearling purchase from breeder David Anderson.
Day Phillips has won 2 of the last 6 Oaks, one with the Fitzhenry’s Dixie Moon.
A pair of Chiefswood Stables fillies rate a look. The pretty grey gal PIONEER’S EDGE likely had an excuse when she dropped back in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes and in her previous race she was beaten just a head by Moira in the Fury. MACCOOL’S GIRL was well prepared by trainer Rachel Halden to win a 1 1/16 mile maiden race in her debut, that coming on the inner turf. She is a headstrong miss and she landed fourth in her latest when trying Tapeta.
Donato Lanni owns STREGA, a two-time winner who likes to be on or near the pace. She was purchased for just $10,000.
MY GIRL SKY, trained by Katerine Vassilieva for Kevin Drew, won a 1 1/8 mile race on turf last time with a nice stretch run.
SOUPER FLASHY won a sprint race in her 3-year-old debut and had been second in the Princess Elizabeth to Moira. She recently battled on the pace in the Fury and wound up fourth.
Sam-Son Farms’ SWOOP TO FINISH comes off her maiden win in her first turf and route race for trainer Gail Cox.
The PLATE TRIAL will feature one of the early Plate favourites, THE MINKSTER, for Ray and Debbie Burke of Buffalo.
10 Possible for July 24 Woodbine Oaks
sire, last 3 Beyer Speed Figures Note
Moira Ghostzapper 74, 74, 41 – Lone stakes winner in the field
Sahlabiya Medaglia D’Oro 77, 78 $1.6 million yearling is a placed maiden from New York
Sister Seagull Hard Spun 73, 67, 53 – Improving gal comes off nice maiden win
Pioneer’s Edge Pioneerof the Nile 68, 74 74 – Just missed to Moira in Fury, faded in Selene (G3)
Maccool’s Girl Candy Ride (Arg) 71, 70 – debut winner on turf
Strega Silent Name (Jpn) 62, 62, 70 – 2-time winner
Curlin Candy Curlin 69, 69 70 -maiden, second to ‘Seagull’
Souper Flashy Souper Speedy 65, 75, 64 – 2nd to Mira in Princess Eliz., sprint winner
My Girl Sky Dynamic Sky 62, 61, 63 – won at 1 1/8 miles on turf last time
Swoop to Finish American Pharoah 65, 50, 60 – comes off maiden win on turf in first route race
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