American Women looks to make the grade in Grade 3
American Women chases her first stakes success when she goes postward in Saturday’s $175,000 Hendrie (G3), Saturday at Woodbine.
Owned by Anderson Farms Ontario Inc., Hidden Springs Inc. Pelligreen, Nicholas G., Lanni Bloodstock and Zilli Racing, the four-year-old daughter of Constitution out of the Smart Strike mare Smartly Agree will take on eight rivals in the 6 ½-furlong main track sprint for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up.
Trained by Kevin Attard, American Women, bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm, was second in her most recent start, a 6-furlong allowance optional claimer on May 31.
After settling off the pace under a good hold early, the bay filly split foes in upper stretch and closed energetically to net the runner-up spot.
“When she got it in gear, she came with a nice run,” said Attard. “We’ve seen that from her before. It took her a little while to figure things out early on in her career, but she has continued to improve as she’s gone on. It would be nice to see her get a stakes win. On her best day, she’s more than capable of that.”
One race before, on May 2, American Women contested her first graded stakes, the $150,000 Whimsical (G3), also at 6 furlongs on the main track, and finished fifth.
She arrived at the Whimsical off a pair of winning efforts, including a 4 ¾-length score over 6 panels on the Gulfstream dirt track on March 26 in her seasonal debut.
“She set the early tone and just kept on with it,” said Attard. “She looked comfortable in the early going – you could see her running very confidently – and down the lane she just drew off with that same confidence. It was a good way to start her campaign. We thought she would run well based on how she had worked and she certainly did.”
On Nov. 8, American Women recorded a 1 ½-length victory at 6 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine main track to conclude her three-year-old campaign.
“That was a completely different race, in terms of how she won it,” said Attard. “She came from out of the clouds and drove to the lead. I thought it was very impressive. If there was any similarity to the race at Gulfstream, it was how focused and strong she was in the late going. It was a good way to end off on a winning note.”
Sporting a mark of 3-2-1 from 12 starts ($155,720 in purse earnings), American Women has also competed at Churchill Downs, Ellis Park and Keeneland. Beresford Lee is the groom.
Recent works: On July 9, American Women breezed 4 furlongs in :48.00 over the main track. Ten days later, at the same distance and over the same ground, she posted a bullet :46.60.
“She has a lot of confidence in the mornings,” said Attard. “She came out of the last race in good order and had two nice works. She galloped out strong in both and came back to the barn feeling good. Hopefully, these set her up for a big one on Saturday.”
Fast Facts: La Voyageuse (1979-80) and El Prado Essence (2002-03) both won the race on two occasions. Trudie Tudor won the inaugural running in 1975.
Wagering menu for the Hendrie: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / .20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 9-10-11) / $1 Swinger
Field for the Hendrie Stakes (G3)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Without Cause – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
2 – Creed’s Gold – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
3 – Uphill Dance – Jose Campos – Rachel Halden
4 – Slang (S) – Romero Ramsay Maragh – Anna Meah
5 – She’s All Charm – Ryan Munger – Eoin Harty
6 – Reagan’s Flame – Sahin Civaci – Saffie Joseph, Jr.
7 – Kehoe Beach (S) – Pietro Moran – Wesley Ward
8 – American Women – Jalon Samuel – Kevin Attard
9 – Time to Dazzle – Fraser Aebly – Mark Casse
Dakotah Blue and jockey Jose Campos winning Race 3 on May 3, 2026 at Woodbine. (Michael Burns Photo)
Dakotah Blue takes to the green for Grade 3 Ontario Colleen
Flying Zee Racing Stables’ Dakotah Blue steps up to the stakes ranks when she takes on eight rivals in the $175,000 Ontario Colleen (G3T), a 1-mile race on the inner turf for three-year-old fillies, Saturday at Woodbine.
Trained by Rachel Halden, the daughter of Mendelssohn out of the Empire Maker mare Empire Lady debuted last July in a 6-furlong sprint over the E.P. Taylor turf. Tenth at the half, Dakotah Blue was full of run late to finish fifth, 2 ¾ lengths back of the winner.
“She ran very well at two, as a first-time starter with a tough post (two),” said Halden. “It was a very encouraging effort. We were all quite pleased with how she did in that debut. She doesn’t have the size, but we knew what we had was a very athletic filly. She has a good mind, but she has some personality and character, too.”
Dakotah Blue was put on the shelf after that race before returning to race action on May 3, when she broke her maiden courtesy of a 1 ¼-length score at 6 furlongs on the Woodbine main track.
“We had her tabbed for another race after that first one and she came up with a little issue that required time,” noted Halden. “So, she had a significant amount of time off. But when she came back and started working towards getting back to the races, she was working very well and ran to what she was showing us in the morning, which was very pleasing.”
Bred in Kentucky by Grantley Acres, the filly heads into the Ontario Colleen off a hard-charging fourth at 7 ½ furlongs over the course on June 6.
Seventh and 13 lengths behind the leader at the half-mile mark, Dakotah Blue rallied emphatically down the lane to finish 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner.
“It was a very tough race,” said Halden. “In my opinion, she ran a very credible race, one where she had another outside post to contend with. She looked like she was looking for a little more ground. We had this race on the radar and then we were of the thought as to whether we should try to squeeze another race in, but that would have left us too close to this race. We decided to bite the bullet and wait for this race.
“She has a good turn of foot and is always running on. This little bit of a stretch out should suit her well.”
The dark bay was a $25,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland Association November Breeding Stock Sale. Regulo Perez is the groom.
Recent works: On July 12, Dakotah Blue breezed 4 furlongs over the turf training track in :47.20. One week later, she traveled 4 panels in :49.00 on the main track.
“She’s been working very well,” said Halden. “She’s a good work horse. She goes out there with purpose and she manages to please you every time. She might be little, but she believes she’s big and mighty. She goes out and trains with that attitude and trains quite forwardly.”
Fast Facts: Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse (he sends out Happy Destination and Slippers this year) has won the race a record eight times, including seven of the past nine editions. Patrick Husbands holds the record for most wins by a jockey with five.
Wagering menu for the Ontario Colleen: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 8-9-10) / 0.20 Pick 4 (Races 8-9-10-11) / $1 Swinger
Field for the Ontario Colleen Stakes (G3T)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Slippers – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
2 – Bandiagara (GB) – Sahin Civaci – Miguel Clement
3 – Aretha – Pietro Moran – Kevin Attard
4 – Flowerhead (IRE) – Rafael Hernandez – Charlie Clover
5 – Happy Destination – Romero Ramsay Maragah – Mark Casse
6 – Empty Handed – Ryan Munger – Julia Carey
7 – Smexy (IRE) – Fraser Aebly – Brendan Walsh
8 – Dakotah Blue – Jose Campos – Rachel Halden
9 – Brat Pack – Eswan Flores – Graham Motion
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