Sister Peacock, a three-year-old daughter of Real Solution, goes after her fifth career win in Sunday’s $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes, at Woodbine.
Trained by Stuart Simon, who co-owns with Brent and Russell McLellan, the Kentucky-bred (Ken and Sarah Ramsey) brings a record of 4-3-2 in nine starts to the six-and-a-half furlong main track tilt, which has drawn 14 three-year-old filly hopefuls.
Sister Peacock heads into Sunday’s stake off a second-place effort in the Sweet Briar Too Stakes – also run at the same distance and on the same surface as the Ruling Angel – on September 21 at Woodbine.
Prior to that performance, the bay was third, just a neck back of top spot, in the Galway Stakes. Simon was pleased with the gumption the filly showed in the five-and-a-half furlong turf engagement at Saratoga on August 11.
“She’s doing great,” said Simon. “She ran a good race last time against a tough bunch of older mares. She’s in good order to run in here.”
Sister Peacock kicked off her three-year-old campaign with a pair of seconds at Gulfstream Park, including a narrow neck loss in the Mrs. Presidentress Stakes on February 18.
She then headed back to Woodbine for her next start, the six-furlong Star Shoot Stakes on April 21. Sent off as the 9-5 favourite, Sister Peacock won by 1 ¼-lengths to notch her first added-money title.
One race later, in the turf William Graham Memorial Stakes, she galloped to a 2 ¼-length triumph. It was the second time in her career that she won back-to-back races.
On July 20, she finished third over one mile on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course in the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen Stakes.
“It would have to be a unique circumstance for her not to be on the board,” offered Simon. “She’s gotten better in all ways. She doesn’t need the lead – she can rate. She’ll run on grass and on synthetic. She’s just become better and better, and matured as you’d like a horse to.”
Sister Peacock launched her career in style, taking her first two races by a combined 12 ½-lengths, including a seven-length romp in her second start last November.
Last year, Devine Mischief, under Luis Contreras, won the Ruling Angel in a time of 1:16.44.
The Ruling Angel is slated as race 11 on Sunday’s 11-race card. First post time is 1:05 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.
$100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Missmiz – Jerome Lermyte – Michael Stidham
2 – O’Keeffe – Jose Valdivia Jr. – Larry Rivelli
3 – Ciuri – Leo Salles – Robert Tiller
4 – Double Medal – Justin Stein – Michael De Paulo
5 – Sister Peacock – Jesse Campbell – Stuart Simon
6 – Western Curl – Eurico Rosa da Silva – Mark Casse
7 – Charmaine’s Mia – Steve Bahen – Michael McDonald
8 – Gamble’s Candy – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
9 – Ellby – Patrick Husbands – Arnaud Delacour
10 – Artilena – Kazushi Kimura – Catherine Day Phillips
11 – La Feve – Rafael Hernandez – Graham Motion
12 – Sister Nova – Gary Boulanger – Steve Asmussen
13 – My Gal Betty – Alan Garcia – Roger Attfield
14 – Regal Chant – Willie Martinez – Timothy Hamm
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