The 69th running of the Grade 3 Whimsical Stakes at Woodbine headlines a good weekend of racing with bigger fields for both days of racing than opening weekend. The $125,000 Whimsical at 6 furlongs is for four-year-olds and upward, fillies and mares, and 15 gals were entered with one filly on the also-eligible list.
On Sunday, the $100,000 Thorncliffe overnight stakes also drew a solid field with last year’s Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) winner FLAG OF HONOUR (Aus) headlining the nine-horse field that will sprint 5 1 /2 furlongs.
Half of the Whimsical field are shippers, including Lael Stables’ SUNDAY SHOES, trained by 30 percent trainer Wesley Ward. Sunday Shoes, a $500,000 yearling purchase in 2021, has three wins in four, well-spaced races and won the Serena’s Song Stakes at Turfway on Tapeta in April 2023. She came off a long layoff on February 24 and barged her way between fillies to win an allowance race at Turfway under Walter Rodriguez.