After 1 1/2 miles of the Grade 3 Valedictory Stakes at Woodbine on December 4, multiple graded stakes winner WHO’S THE STAR (Tonalist – Shine Forth by Carson City) and former claiming horse WENTRU (Tourist – Wicked by Tapit), at 42-to-1, landed in a dead heat for the win. It was the second time that jockeys Emma-Jayne Wilson (aboard Who’s the Star) and Rafael Hernandez dead-heated in a stakes race this year as the pair tied in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes in July.
The Valedictory, customarily the closing day feature of the Woodbine racing season, was held a week before the final day of the 2022 season. The race for 3-year-olds and upward on the Tapeta surface had a large field of 12 with Who’s the Star, owned by Mickey Gonzalez’ M Racing Group, the favourite at 9-to-5. The improved gelding, trained by Mark Casse, was unbeaten in his four races at Woodbine since coming in from the United States, including wins in the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes and Grade 3 Durham Cup.
Breaking from post 12, Who’s the Star settled well off the early pace under jockey Wilson while TEC Stables’ Wentru was eager on the pace under Hernandez, who has never ridden the dark bay 4-year-old. Wentru, riding a three-race winning streak that began with a score against non-winners of 3 lifetime for $25,000 claiming, had just won a 1 3/8 mile turf race on the pace (an optional claiming race) and was tugging Hernandez on the lead early in the Valedictory.