Rajendra Maharajh celebrated his September 30th birthday with a trip to Woodbine on Oct. 1 and posing with his filly Bahia Girl in the winner’s circle for a maiden claiming race. On Saturday, Maharajh got an even bigger present when his super filly MUNNYFOR RO won the $250,400 Wonder Where Stakes, third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara. As the overwhelming favourite in the nine-horse field which had just two gals who had won on turf and only four who had won a race of any kind, Munnyfor Ro, trained by Kevin Attard and ridden by Justin Stein, made it look easy through the 1 1/4 miles on turf.
After an early scramble for the lead, 66-1 Youens struck front as 4-1 Emmeline settled just to her outside in second spot. Justin Stein, aboard Munnyfor Ro, kept the 6-5 choice in striking distance, sitting sixth after an opening quarter timed in :26.44.
Youens continued to lead the way with Emmeline keeping close tabs to the pacesetter, as Munnyfor Ro, winner of the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, first leg of the Triple Tiara, was still running along comfortably in sixth after a half in :52.44.
As the field rounded the turn for home, Youens and Emmeline were quickly challenged by several rivals, including Miss Marie and Cielo d’Oro, as Stein called upon MunnyforRo for her best run.
Mid-way down the lane, the favourite seized control and proceeded to sprint away from her rivals, notching a 1 ½-length triumph in a time of 2:05.36 over good ground, and returning $4.60 for the win.
Miss Marie, trained by Breeda Hayes, battled on gamely to secure second place, Cielo d’Oro, owned by David Anderson’s Anderson Farms and Don Ferguson, was third and Bequia, also an Attard trainee, took fourth. Il Malocchio, winner of the Bison City Stakes, second jewel in the Triple Tiara, was sixth.
That is now three wins in nine races this year for Munnyfor Ro (Munnings – Repartee by Distorted Humor) who was bred by Mark Dodson’s Daybar Ltd. in Ontario. The filly debuted for $35,000 claiming at Gulfstream Park and was second and later won her maiden on the grass at Keeneland. She came to Woodbine from trainer Brian Lynch to Attard’s barn and was second in the Selene Stakes (G3) on Tapeta before winning the Woodbine Oaks. She had a solid outing in the Queen’s Plate when fourth just 1 3/4 lengths behind Safe Conduct.
“I thought she’s blossomed a lot since her race in the Queen’s Plate,” said Attard, who won last year’s Wonder Where with Merveilleux. “She kept good weight, possibly put on some weight. She’s matured from a physical standpoint, and she trained really well heading into this race. This was a race that Raj [owner Rajendra Maharajh] wanted to target from the get-go. It was just nice to see it all come together today and get the job done.”
A $65,000 yearling purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September sale, Munnyfor Ro has won three of 12 career races and $509,981. She is the leading contender for the Sovereign Award for Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
It was a good day for Dodson not just because of another Munny win. Dodson’s own filly CHOCOLATEADDICTION, a 2-year-old by Pioneerofthe Nile – Chocolate Coated by Candy Ride (Arg) won her career debut earlier in the day for trainer Josie Carroll. Chocolateaddiciotn was a $135,000 yearling purchase and is a Kentucky bred.
Munnyfor Ro’s dam Repartee is the dam of the 2-year-old filly Retort (Liam’s Map) and a yearling filly by Unified.
More Saturday
THE MINKSTER won his career debut in race one, an ‘auction maiden’ race worth $95,000. The Ontario-bred by English Channel – Cabriole by Flatter won big for Ray Burke’s Sea Glass Stables LLC and trainer Dan Vella. The colt was bred by Dr. Tan Hyka and was a $52,000 yearling purchase at the CTHS Ontario sale in 2020.
Another debut winner on the day was J M R BEST OF TURF who battled hard in a scramble to the wire while along the inside to win at 54-to-1 in a 6 1/2 furlong maiden juvenile race for $25,000 claiming. This homebred for John and Melanie Ryan of Puslinch was well prepared by trainer Steven Chircop to win in this big field and Chris Husbands gave the winning ride. The chestnut 2-year-old is by the Rhan’s stallion Turfiste (Military) from the Best of the Bests mare Best of Aly.
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