Toronto, ON – Moment of Majesty, owned by Curtis Joseph and trained by Sue Leslie, goes after her first added-money victory in Sunday’s $150,000 La Lorgnette Stakes, at Woodbine.

A three-year-old daughter of Saint Liam, Moment of Majesty comes into the 1 1/16-mile La Lorgnette, a key race on the road to the Woodbine Oaks, presented by Budweiser (www.woodbineoaks.com), on June 13, off a three-length win at seven furlongs on the Toronto oval Polytrack on May 1. Sent off at 8-1, Moment of Majesty notched her second win in what was her sixth lifetime start.

“The plan was not be on the lead, but no one wanted it so David (jockey Clark) decided to take it,” noted Leslie. “She traveled comfortably and finished extremely well.”

The bay wintered in Florida, spending the first half of the season at conditioner Mark Casse’s barn, before heading further south to trainer Roger Attfield’s Palm Meadows’ barn.

Last season, Moment of Majesty contested five races, winning one and finishing third in her final race of the campaign, the Ontario Lassie Stakes, with fellow Oaks contenders Resentless and Tee Game finishing first and second, respectively.

The La Lorgnette has attracted multiple stakes winner, Kentucky-bred Biofuel, as well as Ernfold and Tee Game, both of whom are eligible to contest the Oaks. Leslie knows her pupil will need to be at her very best. “Now, she has a very elegant stride,” said Leslie. “She doesn’t hit the ground very hard. She was a nervous filly at two, but she’s gained confidence as she’s gone along.”

She’s also increased her Beyer figure (Daily Racing Form speed rating) in each of her past three starts, capped off by a career-best 81 in her most recent performance. Leslie is hoping the momentum carries over to Sunday’s race. “She was a little slow to mature, but she’s starting to put the whole package together.”

The La Lorgnette is listed as race six on Sunday’s 10-race programme. Racing continues on Holiday Monday with a 1:00 p.m. first-race post, highlighted by the Lady Angela Stakes.

Last year, Hooh Why took the race in a time of 1:45.46.

FIELD FOR THE LA LORGNETTE

Post / Horse / Jockey / Trainer

1 / Biofuel / Eurico Rosa da Silva / Reade Baker

2 / Moment of Majesty / Robert Landry / Sue Leslie

3 / Ernfold / Jim McAleney / Roger Attfield

4 / Tee Game / Slade Callaghan / Mike Doyle

5 / Empire Spring / Patrick Husbands / Christophe Clement

6 / Redverse / Emile Ramsammy / Josie Carroll

7 / Witch’s Coven / Emma-Jayne Wilson / David Bell

 

 

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