Elysian Field, under a polished steer from catch rider Fraser Aebly, came off a summer freshening to win her first career turf race in Sunday’s $150,000 Belfountain Stakes at Woodbine.
Pietro Moran was originally named to ride the six-year-old chestnut mare, but after he was unseated in the Victorian Queen Stakes (one race earlier on Sunday’s card), Aebly was deputized.
Breaking from the inside post in the field of eight, the 2023 Woodbine Oaks champion and King’s Plate runner up, settled in fifth, through an opening two-furlong clocking of :23.98. The 25-1 shot Scat Girl set the early pace in the 9-furlong E.P. Taylor Turf Course route and led the way through an opening half mile in :47.69 and six furlong time of 1:10.75. Fortyfiveseventy raced second, a ground-saving Ontario was third and Crystal Visions was 4th as the field approached the top of the stretch.
Two furlongs out, Aebly had the white-blazed daughter of Hard Spun in striking range while five to six deep. Inside the three-sixteenths pole, the Mark Casse trained Elysian Field struck the front, and while drifting slightly, carried on to win by 2 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:46.77 over a course listed ‘firm.’
Second vs the boys in the 2023 Breeders’ Stakes, Elysian Field was winless in seven career turf starts before winning the Belfountain.
A gracious Aebly was grateful for the win, but happier that his peer Moran was reportedly fine after his mishap a race earlier. “I’m just glad Pietro’s okay. You know, that’s the main thing. We all want to come back safe, said Aebly.
“I had a quick chance to glance at the form when I rode against this horse before. They told me she was pretty uncomplicated, and she kind of just runs her race to just stay out of her way.”
“She jumped out of there well, and we kind of found a nice spot, kind of by her lonesome down the backside. She was traveling pretty comfortable, so I was pretty confident in her there.”
A multiple graded winner on synthetic, Elysian Field was bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont Inc and is owned by Gary Barber and Team Valor International LLC. With the Belfountain win, the chestnut improved to 6-6-0 from 20 career starts.
Elysian Field (Hard Spun – Elysian, by Smart Strike) was 3-1 on the morning line, went to post at odds of 2-1 and paid $6.90 for the win. 19-1 shot Just Magnificent closed to be 2nd, Fortyfiveseventy was 3rd and favourite Ontario was 4th in the 9-furlong turf route for Ontario-bred fillies and mares four-year-olds and upward.
More News
