Queen's Plate Winner Holy Helena Retired
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Photo: Michael Burns
Holy Helena wins the 2017 Queen's Plate at Woodbine
Stronach Stables' homebred Holy Helena—winner of the 2017 Queen's Plate Stakes at Woodbine—has been retired, according to Adena Springs.
The Kentucky farm owned by Frank Stronach posted the news on Facebook Oct. 26, sharing photos of the 5-year-old Ghostzapper mare with the caption "The great Holy Helena has been retired from racing and is ready to begin her career as a broodmare!"
Bred in Ontario out of the winning Holy Bull mare Holy Grace, who is also the dam of grade 2 winner Holy Boss (by Street Boss), Holy Helena came straight off a May 2017 maiden special weight score at second asking to put together back-to-back wins in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser and the Queen's Plate, the prestigious first leg of Canada's Triple Crown.
In 2018, she won The Very One Stakes (G3T) at Gulfstream Park and the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park. She repeated her The Very One victory in 2019 and added a score in the Dance Smartly Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine. Her final start was Oct. 12 in the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine, where she finished fifth. She was retired with an 8-3-2 record from 20 starts and earnings of $1,330,018.
Breeding plans were not announced. Holy Grace foaled a full brother to Holy Helena May 14.