The $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes for three-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs opens the stakes season at Woodbine in 2026, and seven gals were entered for the race on April 25. Fans of Woodbine’s champion jockey of 2024, SAHIN CIVACI, will be excited to welcome back the rider as he will partner DAY TO DAY in the Star Shoot for trainer Saffie Joseph and owners C2 Racing Stable (of White Abarrio fame) and BAG Racing Stable.
Day to Day, by McKinzie, has had an ambitious career to this point. She won her debut at Colonial Downs last July going 5 1/2 furlongs on the grass and immediately she was in a Grade 1 race, the Spinaway. She finished fourth behind eventual stars Tammy Jo and Percy’s Bar. After a myriad of distances, surfaces and stakes tries, she was back on Lasix and back sprinting last time at Turfway. Unfortunately, she was shut off at the start and ended up with so much kickback in her face that she was climbing away from the Tapeta. She raced wide all the way and then closed fast to be third behind Mony Mony.
Day to Day was supplemented to the Star Shoot at a cost of $2,500.
Mony Mony was also supplemented by her owners Scott and Evan Dilworth and Randy Andrews. Trained by Joe Sharp, Mony Mony had a perfect trip when second in the Turfway race with Day to Day. She recently got burned out in a speed duel in the Serenas Song Stake and she is back on Lasix.
Mike Repole’s Repole Stable has homebred NONNA’S LOVE entered and this gal was a maiden winner in June with Todd Pletcher. She was recently outrun early in a 5 furlong turf sprint off the long layoff and is now with Kevin Attard. Nonna’s Love is a half-sister to Travers Stakes, Florida Derby and Pacific Classic winner Fierceness.
The 2025 leading rider by stakes wins, Rafael Hernandez, will ride the mare LAKOTA LADY for Camhaven Farms and trainer Preston Ferris. Lakota Lady ran a strong race in her career debut at Fair Grounds to be a close second, but she faded in her next outing. She remains a maiden.
The lone Canadian-bred in the field is the well-bred LIKELY STORY, owned by Tracy Farmer. The daughter of Charlatan and Canadian Horse of the Year Caren won her maiden in November and she is trained by Mark Casse.
Eight races on Saturday have small fields and offer the first look at more new faces in the rider’s room including Prayven Badrie and Barbados apprentice Kenmarie Blackett.
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