“We had to work hard to get it.”
Jockey Rafael Hernandez was out of breath in the winner’s circle following the Saturday feature at Woodbine, the $100,000 RULING ANGEL STAKES at 7 furlongs for three-year-old fillies. Last year’s Sovereign Award-winning rider coaxed his mount DIXIE LAW, a Sovereign Award finalist for juvenile filly last year, between rivals and the pair had just enough of a late burst to win by an inch. Kentucky-bred Meilani, who led throughout the race under Pietro Moran, just failed to hang on in her Tapeta surface debut while odds-on favourite Luster, previously unbeaten in two races, was an even third.
There was plenty of trouble for other fillies in the field. Kentucky shipper Frosty Mojito stumbled badly and almost lost her rider at the start and Lakota Lady was hard held for half the race and came up empty.
Dixie Law, racing with Lasix for the first time, earned a career best Beyer Speed Figure of 86 for racing the distance in 1:22.58. Meilani earned the same Beyer. Luster was a flat third.
Dixie Law was one of the top Canadian-bred two-year-old fillies of last year for owner/breeders Garland and Marie Williamson of Hillsbrook Farm. The Tiz the Law gal won her debut sprinting on the grass last July and after a mild run in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes, won the Cup and Saucer on turf over colts and the Grade 3 Mazarine on Tapeta. She ended the season with a fourth in the Coronation Futurity.
Dixie Law, trained by Dale Desruisseaux, wintered in Florida, where the trainer was also prepping another Sovereign finalist filly, PIPER’S GIFT, for Chiefswood Stable. The filly had a number of local workouts as well and was no doubt fit enough to win what was a grueling stretch run.
“She’s grown a lot, she’s matured a lot and I think her nerves are better this year,” said Williamson, who has bred and raced dozens of top horses in Canada for several decades.
The next stop for Dixie Law would be the Grade 3 Selene as her final race before the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks in July.
The Woodbine track has played fair both Friday and Saturday. although outside ralliers have had a slight edge.
There were other Woodbine Oaks eligibles competing on Saturday (Luster in the Ruling Angel may not have taken to Tapeta in her first try on the surface).
Two gals won: ARIANNA’S TOUR, by Souper Speedy, led all the way in an optional claiming race at 6 1/2 furlongs and defeated older gals for owner Gail Wood and trainer Krista Cole. She earned a 66 Beyer Speed Figure and she was one of three winning rides for Fraser Aebly on the day. Arianna’s Tour was also the second winner on the day for trainer Krista Cole, as longtime maiden BEE ME finally broke through for a win in race 1. Aebly also won on Pin Boy for Wallace Standardbreds, Jack Darling and partners and trainer Richie Morden, as well as SAVE THE DATE, who won race 4, giving JOE HUMBER his first ever win at Woodbine.
David Moran rode REGAL AFFAIR (Ami’s Holiday), who rallied extremely wide in the toughly-run final race and won her maiden at 6 1/2 furlongs with a 62 Beyer Figure for Racing Canada and Sheldon Pettle and trainer Steve Attard.
Trip handicappers will have had a field day making notes on Saturday’s card, as many of the races saw numerous horses have trouble whether it was checking, steadying, or simply being victims of failed tactics.
Race 10 featured a very tight stretch run with a number of lightly-raced or beginner fillies having trouble. SUPERFLY CHICK and jockey Jason Hoyte lacked room throughout most of the stretch until diving inside, but that caused first-time starter ILLY to check sharply and Superfly Chick was disqualified.
It doesn’t happen often, but a 1-to-5 shot lost and that was PHILIP BANKS in race nine. The fast gelding, who ran a 98 Beyer Speed Figure (according to Daily Racing Form) in his final appearance of 2025, broke a few steps slowly, chased front-runner Quadzilla, a 25-to-1 shot, but could not pass. Quadzilla, by Souper Speedy, won his season debut at 18-to-1 for RCC Racing Stable and trainer John Mattine and doubled up, while the Daily Racing Form and entries had listed the three-year-old as a first-time gelding for Saturday’s race.
Quadzilla was the fourth winner from 11 starts for Mattine in 2026. He won seven races each of the last two years. John’s brother Mike Mattine won two races on Friday.
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