Late-Season Marvel Merveilleux Shines at Woodbine
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Photo: Michael Burns
Merveilleux wins the Ontario Damsel Stakes at Woodbine
On the heels of her three-length Wonder Where Stakes win, Merveilleux turned in another dazzling performance in the CA$150,000 (US$114,566) Ontario Damsel Stakes for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies Nov. 21 at Woodbine.
With Rafael Hernandez aboard, the Kevin Attard trainee stalked the duelling front-runners before launching her winning bid three-wide in the final turn of the 1 1/16-mile main track stakes event.
Avie's Samurai left sharply and darted to the lead with Justleaveitalone joining her on top through fractions of :24.91, :48.68, and 1:26.61. Reigning divisional champion and Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser winner Curlin's Voyage attempted to circle the pacemakers approaching three-quarters, but the even-money favorite posed no threat down the lane.
At the top of the stretch, Merveilleux exploded with late pace and drew off by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:44.37, with Avie's Samurai staying for second over the late-rallying Afleet Katherine, also trained by Attard. Ann of Cleves, Curlin's Voyage, and Justleaveitalone completed the order of finish.
"I just wanted to make sure to get the right move, at the right time," said Hernandez. "I didn't want to get it too early and then flatten out in the lane, but everything worked good in the whole race. We sat behind the speed horse, relaxed good, and everything worked perfect today."
Bred by Mike Carroll out of the Holy Bull mare Breech Inlet, Merveilleux was a $150,000 purchase by owners Al and Bill Ulwelling from Randy Miles' consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training in 2019. The daughter of Paynter now boasts three wins and third (in the Woodbine Oaks) from six sophomore starts, and has hit the board in eight of her 11 races. She paid $6.10 to win as the 2-1 second choice.
"She was kind of misfortunate earlier in the year to have some rough trips and some bad racing luck, but she's really put it together lately and I'm just happy to see it for the owners," said Attard, via a video call after watching the race from home.
Merveilleux's late-season stakes success puts her in the conversation for divisional Sovereign Award honors.
"The championship is not based on one or two months of the year, it's over the season, and she's obviously gotten better as the season's gone on and she's at the top of the division right now," noted Attard. "We're just happy that she's progressed like we wanted her to and hopefully she turns out to be a nice 4-year-old."