Woodbine Saturday: Jolie Olimpica is Gold in Grade 2 Nassau Stakes

With the Tokyo Olympics opening on Saturday it was fitting that JOLIE OLIMPICA won the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes, worth $175,000, in her Canadian debut. The Brazilian-bred was Horse of the Year in her own country and was purchased by the late Rick Porter to race in North America in 2020. Her first season for Porter was super as she won two graded stakes in California and was second in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley to the good Rushing Fall last summer.

Transferred to Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer Josie Carroll this spring, seeking stakes races in which Lasix is allowed, JOLIE OLIMPICA was strong in her Nassau victory over a grass course that was softened up a bit from afternoon rain. The turf races following the Nassua, including race 7, were all taken off the grass.

Making her Woodbine debut on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, Jolie Olimpica stalked the pacesetter Honey Cake while racing outside of 2020 Nassau runner-up Another Time through fractions of :23.94, :47.63 and 1:10.69. The Brazilian-bred daughter of Drosselmeyer rallied three-wide on the turn and pulled ahead down the lane en route to victory in 1:34.83.

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Jolie Olimpica paid $5.30 to win as the 8-5 favourite as she finished three-quarters of a length ahead of 7-2 second choice Abscond, who closed strongly from the backfield to place. Our Secret Agent rounded out the top three finish order 2 ½ lengths behind.

“She was so nice and great the whole way,” said winning jockey Luis Contreras. “I was confident every single step of the way and turning for home, it felt like she was just breaking from the gate again.”

Bred by Stud T N T, the classy chestnut mare has finished no worse than third in 10 lifetime starts. Jolie Olimpica has earned more than $450,000 in purses and six career victories, including last year’s Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes and Grade 3 Las Cienegas at Santa Anita.

Porter’s Fox Hill Farms has raced horses at Woodbine in recent years. He had a string with trainer Mark Casse including Ontario-bred stakes winner Blueblood and stakes winner Into the Mystic among others.

Carroll noted the mare has been ready to run for a long time with the delayed season and opted for the Nassau’s one-turn mile to allow her to relax better in the race and make an easier lead.

“What an honour to have these silks,” said Carroll in reference to the white and red colours representing Fox Hill and its late founder Rick Porter. “It was wonderful that Mr. Porter sent this horse here and that his family left her with me with his passing.”

More Saturday: PAUL BUTTIGIEG has a very nice prospect in the 3-year-old colt ARTIE’S STORM (We Miss Artie – Tiz Stormy Now by Tiznow) who beat older horses in a turf allowance race Saturday under jockey David Moran. The dark bay gelding was second I the Queenston Stakes to Tio Magico after his maiden win, both races at seven furlongs on the Tapeta. He was stretching out for the grass run Saturday and won a stirring stretch duel with Meyer, who was second in last year’s Breeders’ Stakes.

Bred by Sunrise Farms, Artie’s Storm is not a Queen’s Plate eligible, or Canadian Triple Crown eligible. He would have to be supplemented to the Plate for $25,000. Buttigieg bought Artie’s Storm’s dam TIZ STORMY NOW for $10,000 in foal to Old Forester in 2021 from the Keeneland January Sale. That foal, Ghost Forest brought about $15,000 (US) at the Woodbine sale. The mare has produced four winners: Ghost Forest, Stormy Leo, Stormy Egbert and Conquer Him.

In other Plate news, impressive New York maiden winner HOMBRE was unplaced in an allowance race on turf at Saratoga on Saturday for owner Rob Cudney.

There was much excitement for race 10 at Woodbine as first time starter JELGO, owned by John Handbury, in impressive fashion in the seven furlong off-the-turn maiden optional. A big Giant Gizmo gelding from the hard knocking mare She’s the Umpire, Jelgo was well prepared by trainer MATT DOUGLAS. Sahin Civaci rode. Ron House is the breeder.

SECRET RESERVE was an impressive winner of an optional event, race 5 for Carlo d’Amato and Stacey Van Camp. Trained by Mike Mattine, the 3-year-old by Giant Gizmo – Smart Suzie by Smart Strike powered away to a 4 1/2 length win, sizzling six furlongs in 1:08.81.

It was a four win day for the Mark Casse stable. It won with the impeccably bred gelding War Bomber, who dropped in for $40,000 claiming and own his maiden on grass and won races 7, 8 and 9 with Hit the Point, Souper Watson and Art of Almost.