Sister Peacock, a three-year-old daughter of Real Solution, goes after her third straight stakes score in Saturday’s Grade 3 $125,000 Ontario Colleen, one of two ($100,000 Toronto Cup) added-money features on Woodbine’s 11-race card.
Trained and co-owned by Stuart Simon, the Kentucky-bred arrives at the one-mile inner turf event off two strong stakes efforts.
On April 21, Sister Peacock led every step of the way in winning the Star Shoot Stakes. Under Jesse Campbell, the filly broke quickly and went on to win the six-furlong main track feature by 1 ¼-lengths.
One race later, on June 8, the bay, bred by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, was quick out of the gates again, going on to tally a 2 ¼-length in the inaugural running of the six-and-a-half-furlong William D. Graham Memorial Stakes. The final time over ‘firm’ turf was 1:13.80.
“She’s been a really nice filly for us,” said Simon, who co-owns with Brent and Russell McLellan. “I think the Graham stood out as her best race because she had the outside hole (post 13) and she settled nicely. When Jesse asked her for a little run, she opened up rather quickly and then just cruised to the wire. She had a really good turn of foot there.”
Sister Peacock wasted little time in impressing her connections, winning her first two races (both at Woodbine), including an excellent performance in her career bow last October. Sent on her way as the 4-1 third choice, the filly held a six-length advantage at the stretch call, eventually winning by five lengths in the five-furlong race.
“It was a really nice effort and we knew after that one that we had a good filly,” said Simon. “After we ran her that first time, she kept on running and improving from there.”
After another triumph at the Toronto oval, Sister Peacock migrated to Gulfstream, where she was runner-up in a pair of added-money events, the Andromeda Stakes on January 25, and the Mrs. Presidentress on February 18.
Now, she’ll look to keep her perfect Woodbine record intact.
“She gets over the synthetic very well and gets over the turf well too,” offered Simon. “Her best quality is that she’ll relax while she’s running. She doesn’t need the lead – she’ll just relax and finish well.”
Holyanna, a half-sister to 2017 Queen’s Plate champion and recent Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes winner Holy Helena, will look to build off an impressive debut win on June 22.
The Stronach Stables homebred by Point of Entry notched a 4 ¼-length victory in a 1 1/16-mile turf race on June 22.
“We’ve been excited to see her get to the races and when she finally did I was happy to see her run the way we thought she would,” said trainer Kevin Attard. “This is obviously a big step up in class, but we think she’s up to the challenge and are looking forward to seeing her take the next step.”
Last year, Gary Barber’s Got Stormy ($3.20) won the Ontario Colleen by two lengths.
The Ontario Colleen is scheduled as the eighth race on Saturday’s 1:05 p.m. program. The Toronto Cup, a 1 1/8-mile three-year-old stakes on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, is slated as race three.
$125,000 ONTARIO COLLEEN STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Queen of Bermuda – Alan Garcia – Graham Motion
2 – Seek and Destroy – Luis Contreras – Chad Brown
3 – Sister Peacock – Jesse Campbell – Stuart Simon
4 – Enjay’s Brass – Gary Boulanger – Michael Trombetta
5 – I’ll Take the Gold – Skye Chernetz – Bonnie Eshelman
6 – Holyanna – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Kevin Attard
7 – Wings of Dawn – Jerome Lermyte – Mark Casse
8 – Speedy Soul – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
9 – Carnival Colors – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Michael Stidham
10 – Double Medal – Rafael Hernandez – Michael De Paulo
$100,000 TORONTO CUP STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Armistice Day – Luis Contreras – Barbara Minshall
2 – Mo Speed – Jerome Lermyte – Mark Casse
3 – Inventing Blame – Jesse Campbell – Roger Attfield
4 – Inclusive – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Graham Motion
5 – Encierro – Eurico Rosa Da Silva – Catherine Day Phillips
6 – Noble Hope – Steven Bahen – Roger Attfield
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