This year’s edition of the Canadian Triple Tiara draws to a close Sunday with the running of the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes at Woodbine. Set for 1 ¼ miles on the E.P. Taylor turf, the race for three-year-old Canadian-bred fillies, which includes a $100,000 bonus for eligible Ontario-breds, drew six contenders.
Luster, trained by Josie Carroll for owners Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck) and Andrew Rosen, took the first leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois, on July 19, en route to another dominant victory in The King’s Plate on Aug. 15.
Katie’s Grace, who earned her first stakes crown when she won the second leg, the Bison City Stakes, on Aug. 8, will look to cap off the series with a win in the final jewel.
Trained by multiple graded stakes winner Catherine Day Phillips for Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing LLC and Hubert Vester, Katie’s Grace heads into her first turf race off a rallying two-length triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Bison City over the main track.
“She ran a great race and showed her ability to be a strong stretch runner,” said Day Phillips, who won the 2022 Bison City with Sister Seagull. “We were all thrilled with the effort she showed on that day.”
The daughter of Independence Hall out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Bella Joy will now travel 10 furlongs over the E.P. Taylor turf, both of which Day Phillips expects her sophomore filly will relish.
“I think the added distance will suit her, and she should enjoy the long stretch (1,440 feet from the start of the stretch to the finish line) of the course. As a Kitten’s Joy offspring, she should enjoy the turf. I love the E.P. Taylor turf, and we are delighted to be back on it.”
Katie’s Grace won on debut at Woodbine last September. After veering out at the start and settling into mid-pack in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race for two-year-olds on the main track, she launched a strong late rally to move into second at the stretch call before powering home to win by a half-length in 1:25.13.
Katie’s Grace closed the curtain on her two-year-old season with a third in the Mazarine Stakes (G3) on Nov. 2 and a runner-up showing in the Princess Elizabeth later that month before wintering in Ocala with Ellen Kim.
Fifth in her three-year-old debut, a 7-furlong main track allowance optional claimer, Katie’s Grace followed it up with a fourth in the Fury Stakes, at the same distance and over the same course, on June 6.
After a second in the Selene Stakes, at 1 1/16 miles over the main track, on June 27, she was fourth in the Woodbine Oaks just over three weeks later. She brings a 2-2-1 record from eight starts into her fifth consecutive stakes engagement.
“It’s a great partnership behind this filly, with Hubert (Vester) and Charlie Gavin (Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing),” said Day Phillips. “It looks as though Hubert is coming into town for the race, and we are excited that he will be at Woodbine to watch Katie’s Grace run. Hopefully, Charlie will be in Toronto to watch the race, too.”
Bred in Ontario by Northern Dawn Stables and Sandy Giffen, Katie’s Grace was an $80,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training. Israel Pena Cambray is the groom.
Recent works: Katie’s Grace posted a pair of 4-furlong works over the main track ahead of the Wonder Where, in :49.20 on Aug. 22 and in :48.20 one week later.
“Her penultimate breeze was just an easy half by herself, and her most recent breeze was a little more on the bridle,” said Day Phillips. “We put the blinkers on for the most recent breeze – Ryan Munger was on for both – like we did before the Bison City. I was happy with the breeze and thought she was well within herself.”
Fast facts: The race is named after champion filly Wonder Where, Canada’s 1959 Horse of the Year and a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee. In 2007, Sealy Hill (Canada’s Horse of the Year that year) became the first filly to win the Canadian Triple Tiara since the series was established in 1999. Northern Queen won the inaugural running in 1965.
Wagering menu for the Wonder Where: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / $1 Swinger.
Field for the Wonder Where Stakes
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Bold Time – Fraser Aebly – Josie Carroll
2 – Dixie Law – Pietro Moran – Dale Desruisseaux
3 – Ashlee B – Jalon Samuel – Patrick Dixon
4 – Katie’s Grace – Ryan Munger – Catherine Day Phillips
5 – La Culasse – Luis Reyes – Kevin Attard
6 – Cool Times – Rafael Hernandez – Katerina Vassilieva
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