On Friday morning, August 9, heavy rain began in southern Ontario, the same nasty weather that has been playing havoc with racing in the U.S. thanks to the remnants of Hurricane Debby.
Two of Canada’s Horses of the Year, MOIRA and FEV ROVER (Ire) have elected to head out of town and compete in the Beverly D Stakes (G2) at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Virginia on Sunday.
Moira was also entered in the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday, a race she easily won last year.
The Beverly D was scheduled for Saturday as well but the rain has been heavy and relentless and Colonial and Saratoga are among several tracks that have canceled racing Friday and moved grass stakes races or the entire race date to Sunday. It was enticing for Moira to be sent to Colonial as the Beverly D offers a super purse of $500,000 US, a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar, and is at 1 3/16 miles. However, the field is small and there is very little early speed which would not help Moira’s stretch run.
Trainer Graham Motion, who has crossed-entered Canadian-bred Mission of Joy in the Canadian and Beverly D., said he would go where Moira was not going. Frankie Dettori is named to ride Mission of Joy at Woodbine.
Also, Libban, perhaps the lone speed in the Beverly D, is also entered in the Canadian.
The E.P. Taylor turf will likely be on the yielding side for Saturday.
While we don’t get to see Moira, the Canadian has attracted a nice set of fillies and mares. The 2023 Champion Older Mare/Main Track, Millie Girl, was third in the Grade 2 Nassau last time out, Full Count Felicia is a Grade 2 winner and a new addition to the Attard barn, and Grade 1-placed Forever After All ships in for Dixiana Farm. Toss in stakes winners Five Towns and Star Fortress and local gal Fashionably Fab, plus 2023 Champion three-year-old filly Elysian Field and you have super stakes race on Saturday.
Just as exciting is the $250,000 BISON CITY STAKES, the second leg of the Triple Tiara for Canadian-bred three-year-old fillies which is race 8 on Saturday at Woodbine.
Woodbine Oaks winner KIN’S CONCERTO will bypass the King’s Plate next week and she takes on eight gals in the 1 1/16 mile Bison City for Chiefswood Stable and trainer Josie Carroll. The daughter of Mendelssohn shortens up from her Oaks win and meets Hurricane Clair and A Little Frisky, third and fourth in the Oaks. Also in the race is speedster dancing Duchess, winner of the Alywow Stakes on turf in June, maiden winner Ontario and Oaks fifth-place finisher Lunch With Bernie. The field is completed by Look to Conquer, Stormcast and My Girl Della.
With a likely hot pace up front, Kin’s Concerto, Hurricane Clair and A Little Frisky look like the major contenders.
More from Canadian Thoroughbred:
