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.
Sunday Shoes has had a litany of workouts since that victory and no doubt her interests are seeking some graded stakes black-type.
ACCOMPLISHED GIRL is already a graded stakes winner as she took the Presque Isle Masters (G2) last September for Gentry Farm and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. The speedy daughter of Street Boss has won three races, all leading from start to finish. She sizzled in a workout at Gulfstream on Tapeta, 5 furlongs in 58.60, and Tyler Connor will ride.
Another graded stakes winner in the field is HONEY PANTS, a grey five-year-old mare by Cairo Prince who won the Las Cienegas (G3) at 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Santa Anita in January. Owned by Bakster Farm and Gerald Isbister, Honey Pants was ridden by Frankie Dettori that day. She recently raced at Turfway Park in the Queen Stakes and missed by a head when dead-heating for second. Honey Pants is now trained by Jonathan Thomas and she returns to the Lasix program. Turfway’s leading rider Luan Machado will ride.
Trainer Mark Casse has won the last two editions of the Whimsical and four overall. He could set a record for most wins by a trainer in the race should PLAY THE MUSIC, by Mo Town, win under Patrick Husbands. This filly was a winner of the Lightning City Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs two starts back, her fourth career win. All of her wins have come on turf.
Woodbine hosts a Kentucky Derby party on Saturday.
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