A field of seven Canadian-bred three-year-old fillies will contest the 71st running of the WOODBINE OAKS on Sunday, July 19 as part of a 14-race card that includes the Plate Trial. The Oaks and Trial, big races themselves, could also spawn a few players for the Aug. 15 King’s Plate.
The steel grey gal LUSTER, owned by good friends Antony Beck of Gainesway Farm and Andrew Rosen and trained by Hall of Famer Josie Carroll, has been installed the heavy 6-to-5 favourite for the 1 1/8 mile race on Tapeta. Luster has won three of four career starts including the Grade 3 Selene Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, on June 27.
American Hall of Famer jockey JOHN VELAZQUEZ has been enlisted to ride Luster and Velazquez won last year’s Oaks on Gary Barber’s No Time. Luster has a fascinating background as the daughter of Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Knicks Go – Ruby Frost by The Factor is one of just a couple of horses ever bred by Ravi Sugrim and his wife Joannie Daas.
Sugrim, who is from Guyana, bought Luster’s dam Ruby Frost for $5,000 (US) after seeing an ad for her on social media. She had a pair of Gormley foals and then Sugrim splurged and bred her to Knicks Go for $30,000. He sent the mare to Ron Clarkson’s Rolling Ridge Farm in Ontario where Luster was born.
“I am very proud [to have bred Luster],” said Sugrim, who began studying pedigrees while watching races at Greenwood racetrack decades ago.
Four of the last 20 winners have gone on to win the King’s (Queen’s Plate), the most recent being Moira in 2022.
The other top players in the Oaks are both trained by DALE DESRUISSEAUX, who has surged into the top 10 trainers at Woodbine in the last couple of years. The Welland horseman has Chiefswood Stables’ Piper’s Gift (Yorkton) and Hillsbrook Farm’s Dixie Law. The two fillies have never met.
Piper’s Gift is a robust bay who has won three stakes races including the 7 furlong Fury Stakes in her latest outing. Rafael Hernandez rides. Dixie Law has also won three stakes including the Grade 3 Mazarine. She won the 7 furlong Ruling Angel on May 16 and was third to Luster in the Selene.
Robert and Mark Krembil’s Chiefswood Stables and Carroll combined to win the Oaks in 2024 with Kin’s Concerto and have BOLD TIME entered this year. The Not This Time filly was very strong winning her maiden race with an 83 Beyer FIgure, but flopped in the Selene Stakes.
And KATIE’S GRACE, trained by Catherine Day Phillips for Americans Chivalry Thoroughbreds and Hubert Vester, was a closing second in the Selene under Ryan Munger and she should enjoy the longer distance.
Kinzie Girl, second in a $40,000 claiming race after setting the pace through most of the 1 1/16 miles,has been entered by Zill Racing Stables. And maiden Red Guitar was supplemented for $12,500 by RCC Racing Stable, Ltd. after a pair of fourth place finishes.
Post time for the Oaks is 5:57 p.m. Sunday.
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
PAST 20 WOODBINE OAKS WINNERS
Yr-Winner-Jockey-Trainer-Owner-Time
2025 No Time, John R. Velazquez, Mark E. Casse, Gary Barber 1:50.14
2024 Kin’s Concerto, Sofia Vives, Josie Carroll, Chiefswood Stable 1:51.18
2023 Elysian Field, Sahin Civaci, Mark E. Casse, Team Valor International, Gary Barber 1:49.78
2022 Moira, Rafael Manuel Hernandez, Kevin Attard, X-Men Racing LLC, Madaket Stables LLC & SF Racing LLC 1:49.83
2021 Munnyfor Ro, Justin Stein, Kevin Attard, Raroma Stable 1:50.31
2020 Curlin’s Voyage, Patrick Husbands, Josie Carroll, Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc. & Windsor Boys Racing 1:50.04
2019 Desert Ride, Steve Bahen, Neil J. Howard, Sam-Son Farm 1:50.43
2018 Dixie Moon, Eurico Rosa Da Silva, Catherine Day Phillips, Sean & Dorothy Fitzhenry 1:50.38
2017 Holy Helena, Luis Contreras, Jimmy Jerkens, Stronach Stables 1:50.18
2016 Neshama, Eurico Rosa Da Silva, Catherine Day Phillips, Carnegie Hill Stable, Kingfield Racing Stable, Anderson Farms, & J.Fielding 1:52.34
2015 Academic, Justin Stein, Reade Baker, Bear Stables 1:48.86
2014 Lexie Lou, Patrick Husbands, Mark E. Casse, Gary Barber 1:49.77
2013 Nipissing, Steve Bahen, Rachel Halden, Chiefswood Stable 1:50.34
2012 Irish Mission, Alex Solis, Mark Frostad, Robert S. Evans 1:50.50
2011 Inglorious, Luis Contreras, Josie Carroll, Donver Stable 1:51.77
2010 Roan Inish, David J. Moran, Carolyn M. Costigan, Robert J. Costigan 1:50.53
2009 Milwaukee Appeal, Stewart Elliott, Scott H. Fairlie, C.E.C. Farms 1:49.84
2008 Ginger Brew, Javier Castellano, Brian A. Lynch, Stronach Stables 1:51.40
2007 Sealy Hill, Patrick Husbands, Mark E. Casse, Eugene Melnyk 1:50.68
2006 Kimchi, Patrick Husbands, Mark E. Casse, Seasoft Stable 1:52.23
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