Bolstered by a trio of graded stakes races and a bright, sunny Toronto afternoon, the November 9 Woodbine card was set to be one of the best of the season, certainly of the autumn.
Fans did see some super races and performances but two fatal breakdowns on the Tapeta surface during the afternoon, including that of stakes winner OWEN’S TOUR GUIDE, eventually put a halt to the racing just before the Autumn Stakes. When the six-year-old Ontario-bred Owen’s Tour Guide broke down on the turn of the Grade 3 Bessarabian Stakes, horsepeople, riders and management convened.
After close to 20 minutes, Woodbine canceled the last two races of the day:
Following consultation with the HBPA, Jockeys’ Guild and AGCO, Woodbine Entertainment canceled the remainder of Saturday’s Thoroughbred race card (Races 9 & 10) in the best interest of equine safety. The Autumn Stakes will be re-scheduled (as drawn) for next Saturday, November 16.
Owen’s Tour Guide, a daughter of Tourist owned by Tequesta Racing and trained by William Armata, was ridden by Jose Campos, who walked away under his power. The bay mare had won the Zadracarta Stakes on Sept. 21 and was recently fifth in the Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3) 19 days ago. The mare had seven wins from 39 races and $382,435 in earnings.
The incident came a few races after Social Dancer, a maiden filly making her third career start, broke down in race 2. A homebred for C. Scott Abbott, Social Dancer was racing on the rail three furlongs or so from home when she broke down. She was euthanized. And, from reports from horsepeople, a young horse from the barn of Catherine Day Phillips had fatally broken down on the main track during morning training.
Training on the main track was canceled for Sunday morning. Racing was cancelled for Sunday afternoon.
Sadly, these incidents took away from some stunning runs by three fillies on Saturday, beginning with the much-hyped EARHART (Fr), who had been working in promising fashion for many months for trainer Josie Carroll. The grey three-year-old was a $1,435,844 yearling purchase ($1.4 million euros) by LNJ Foxwoods at the ARQANA August yearling auction in France. The daughter of top sire Siyouni (Fr) from the mare Aviatraa (Ire) was bet down to 4-to-5 and she won in a canter. Under Rafael Hernandez, Earhart coated on the lead and won the seven furlong maiden special weight race by 6 3/4 lengths in 1:22.69 for a hefty 86 Beyer Speed Figure according to Daily Racing Form.
The last three races to be run on the day were all won by Mark Casse-trained fillies. Personal Pursuit, a Tapit filly who cost $500,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September sale, came off a 2 1/2 month layoff to win an allowance/optional claiming dash at 6 furlongs in 1:09.99 for an 82 Beyer Figure. Tracy Farmer owns the grey who has three wins from 17 races.
The Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) was up first, a 1 1/4 mile tour of the main track and last year’s winner Millie Girl was one of several well bet gals in the field along with multiple graded stakes winner Fashionably Fab and King’s Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness.
A solid pace was set by Aha Moment, one of three Mark Casse-trained entrants, while Ontario Damsel Stakes winner Ecstasy chased through fractions of 23.54, 47.12 and 1:12.07. That set the race up for the closers, particularly the 2023 Champion 3-year-old Filly ELYSIAN FIELD (Hard Spun – Elysian by Smart Strike) and Millie Girl, who got into gear almost beside each other. Leading rider Sahin Civaci split horses in the three path around the turn while Millie Girl, who had been in front of the latter, got shuffled back on the rail before she made her move.
Meanwhile, Caitlinhergrtness, who had chased the top two pace runners, had power to the lead on the turn and had a clear lead into the stretch. Fabulously Fab was taking aim on her but both gals ran out of gas. Elysian Field and Millie Girl, under Ryan Munger, rallied to finish 1-2 in 2:02.14, earning a career best 92 Beyer Figure. Invader Queen Regent (GB) was third and Caitlinhergrtaness was fourth.
The Maple Leaf was the first stakes win for Elysian Field, who is owned by Gary Barber and Team Valor International and bred by David Anderson’s Anderson Farms since her Oaks score last summer. She went on to be second in the King’s Plate to Paramount Prince and second in the Breeders’ Stakes to Touch’n Ride.
After two losses at Gulfstream and Aqueduct to begin this season, Elysian Field won an allowance race at Woodbine in July, was sixth on the turf in the Canadian Stakes (G2) and then a rousing second in the Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) in her most recent race.
Elysian Field was originally a $50,000 yearling purchase by Clinton Road Stakes and then a $70,000 buy at the Ocala June 2-year-old sale in 2022. The flashy chestnut is the third foal and second winner of her dam, who won 2 of 10 races. Elysian Field now has earnings of $669,381 from four wins in 14 races.
The Bessarabian Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares at seven furlongs was up next and the field of 12 included Hendrie Stakes (G3) winner Gal in a Rush, Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3) winner A Game and the fast three-year-old filly STORMCAST, from the Casse stable.
Stormcast (Mitole), winner of the Bison City Stakes in August at 1 1/16 miles and second by 3/4 of a length in the 1 1/4 mile Wonder Where Stakes on grass, was not only cutting back sharply in distance but meeting older horses in her first graded stakes run. Under Rafael Hernandez, Stormcast had no competition for the early lead, especially since Dolce Sopresa was a late scratch after flipping in the gate and Spansive dwelt. Stormcast went an easy 23.60 and 46.62 and held her rivals safe to win by half a length in 1:22.43 for an 89 Beyer Figure. Owned by K.E. M. Racing Stable of Earl Silver, Kenny Fishbein and Michael Eiserman, Stormcast was a $95,000 Ocala March 2-year-old purchase. She was bred by Dr. Tan Hyka of Hillsburgh, ON.
Stormcast, now with three wins in eight races and $309,205 in earnings, is the eighth named foal from her dam Scolara, by Quiet American. Scolara was a two-time stakes winner of over $450,000.
Repole Stables and St. Elias Stables’ Love to Shop was a closing second and longshot Tripolina was third. No other entrants appeared to be hindered by the breakdown of Owen’s Tour Guide although Gal in a Rush was stymied for much of the stretch run in traffic.
Rafael Hernandez guides Stormcast to victory in the $135,000 Bessarabian Stakes for owner K E M Racing Stable and trainer Mark Casse. (Woodbine/ Michael Burns Photo)
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