Bred and owned by Anderson Farms Ontario, Katie Baby, a four-year-old daughter of Curlin, takes on seven rivals in Sunday’s Grade 3 $125,000 Hendrie Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Catherine Day Phillips, Katie Baby arrives at the 6 ½-furlong main track Hendrie, for older fillies and mares, off a sharp allowance score at seven panels on the Toronto oval Tapeta.
Sent off as the 2-5 mutuel choice, the chestnut converted a 3 ½-length lead at track announcer Robert Geller’s stretch call into a five-length romp on May 5.
It was the second win from four starts for Katie Baby, who has also posted a second and third for her connections.
“She was coming off a layoff and had been training very well in Florida,” started Day Phillips, who had a career-best 29 wins and $1.7 million in purse earnings in 2018. “We were really looking forward to her running up here. We expected her to run well and she ran to our expectations.”
On Sunday, she’ll look to deliver her first added-money title. Last year, she finished third in the Bison City Stakes, second jewel in the Canadian Triple Tiara Series.
“We threw a lot at her fairly quickly as a three-year-old, trying to take advantage of some of the restricted races,” offered Day Phillips. “She ran well. She was third, just beaten a head, really. It was heartbreaking she lost because she ran so well.”
The term “valiant” was used in the comments section of the chart for Katie Baby’s Bison City performance. From the way Day Phillips describes her charge, it’s certainly an appropriate description.
“She’s a strong-willed filly and she enjoys running. That’s a good thing. She’s a racehorse and she’s very determined. I know she will certainly try. She enjoys competing. Those are nice combinations.”
The decorated conditioner is hoping for another strong effort from her consistent filly in the 69th edition of the Hendrie.
“She’s had two nice breezes,” said Day Phillips, noting a pair of four-furlong works on May 25 and June 1, both on the Tapeta. “She’s in good order and fingers crossed, she’ll run well again. She’s had a bit of break and some time off, so hopefully she’ll run well on Sunday.”
Last year, Code Warrior took her second straight running of the Hendrie, paying $14.20 for the win.
The Hendrie is Race 9 on Sunday’s 10-race card. First post time is 1:05 p.m.
Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.
FIELD FOR THE $125,000 GRADE 3 HENDRIE
POST – HORSE – JOCKEY – TRAINER
1 – Alnilah – Kirk Johnson – Danny O’Callaghan
2 – Silent Sonet – Davy Moran – Nick Gonzalez
3 – Crazy Sweet – Gary Boulanger – Glenn Wismer
4 – Sly Beauty – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
5 – Katie Baby – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Catherine Day Phillips
6 – Summer Sunday – Rafael Hernandez – Stuart Simon
7 – Devine Mischief – Luis Contreras – Norm McKnight
8 – Straitouttapopcorn – Alan Garcia – Stephen Lyster
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