Moira, Be Like Clint, Hicksy Top Woodbine Stakes

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Moira, Be Like Clint, Hicksy Top Woodbine Stakes
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Photo: Woodbine/Michael Burns Photo
Moira scores first out in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine

A pair of $150,000 for juveniles, the Grey Stakes (G3) and Mazarine Stakes (G3) highlight the 12-race card Nov. 28 at Woodbine.

The 1 1/16-mile Mazarine has attracted a field of nine 2-year-old fillies, including Moira , a daughter of Ghostzapper   who had a stellar debut in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes Oct. 23 against Canadian-breds at the Toronto oval. With jockey Justin Stein at the controls, the Adena Springs-bred miss put in a stunning rally to win going away by 4 1/4 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile tilt. The final time was 1:44.63.

Trained by Kevin Attard for owners X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing, Moira managed to surpass the conditioner's lofty pre-race expectations.

"She's a very nice filly," said Attard, who is enjoying another prosperous campaign at the Toronto oval. "I was very keen even before we ran her. Obviously, to be running in a stakes and going two-turns first-time out is a bit of a risky undertaking, but I thought it was a very calculated risk. I was confident in her and it worked out really well. I thought she looked pretty impressive.

"This race, the Mazarine, is open company and a big step up in class but she's trained really well in the interim, and I'm really excited to see her continue to develop and possibly be a very nice horse."

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Although the 2022 edition of the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser is far down the road, Stein thought of the country's pre-eminent race for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies just after the finish line in the Princess Elizabeth. Those thoughts haven't changed.

"She was really impressive," praised Stein. "Kevin thought she belonged in there and I rode her like she belonged in there. She ran better than I expected. It was pretty amazing for a first lifetime start. She looks the part, she behaves like it, and she ran like it. There's a lot of talent there."

Among the past Princess Elizabeth winners who have gone on to take the Woodbine Oaks are Nipissing  (2012), Roan Inish  (2009), Ginger Gold  (2001), and Dancethruthedawn  (2000).

Attard, in the 1 1/16-mile Grey, will be sending out Be Like Clint  and Hicksy .

Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm and owned by the same connections as Moira, Be Like Clint is 1-1-1 from four starts and will contest his first career stakes race on Sunday.

The son of Point of Entry   arrives at the Grey off a second-place finish in a 1/16-mile Tapeta race Nov. 6.

"I was a little disappointed in his last start," said Attard. "He lost a little bit of ground around the turn and then regained some momentum and ran on to be second. He's a colt that still seems to be figuring things out, so we're hoping he takes another step in the right direction and shows a little bit more improvement."

Hicksy (Hootenanny  ), owned by Donato Lanni through the Lanni Bloodstock banner, heads into the Grey on a two-race win streak, including a three-quarter length score in the seven-furlong Display Stakes Oct. 30.

"He's stretching out in distance for the first time," said Attard. I don't think it's going to be an issue for him. He seems to be rateable. He has some early foot, and he can be positioned anywhere you need him to be. Hopefully, he's just good enough."


Entries: Mazarine S. (G3)

Woodbine, Sunday, November 28, 2021, Race 8

  • Grade III
  • 1 1/16m
  • All Weather Track
  • $150,000
  • 2 yo Fillies
  • 4:37 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Queen Judith (KY) Emma-Jayne Wilson 119 Mark E. Casse 12/1
2 2Chocolateaddiction (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Contreras 119 Josie Carroll 10/1
3 3Mrs. Barbara (KY) Rafael Manuel Hernandez 119 Mark E. Casse 9/2
4 4Kanta (KY) Kazushi Kimura 119 Jonathan Thomas 3/1
5 5Guileful (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Simon P. Husbands 119 Nathan Squires 20/1
6 6Moira (ON)Keeneland Sales Graduate Justin Stein 122 Kevin Attard 4/1
7 7Aubrieta (ON) Patrick Husbands 121 Mark E. Casse 5/2
8 8Souper Hoity Toity (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Gary Boulanger 120 Mark E. Casse 10/1
9 9Sake (FR) Shaun Bridgmohan 119 Jean-Claude Rouget 12/1


Entries: Grey S. (G3)

Woodbine, Sunday, November 28, 2021, Race 9

  • Grade III
  • 1 1/16m
  • All Weather Track
  • $150,000
  • 2 yo
  • 5:08 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Heat Merchant (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Gary Boulanger 119 Ralph J. Biamonte 20/1
2 2Speak Unity (KY) Sahin Civaci 119 Norman McKnight 20/1
3 3Ironstone (ON) Ademar Santos 121 W. V. Armata 12/1
4 4Stowaway (KY) Kazushi Kimura 119 Mark E. Casse 12/1
5 5Shamateur (ON) Steven Ronald Bahen 119 Michael J. Doyle 20/1
6 6Be Like Clint (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Justin Stein 119 Kevin Attard 12/1
7 7On Thin Ice (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Kazushi Kimura 119 Mark E. Casse 15/1
8 8Churchtown (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Emma-Jayne Wilson 119 Roger L. Attfield 6/1
9 9International (KY) Shaun Bridgmohan 120 Jean-Claude Rouget 8/1
10 10God of Love (ON)Keeneland Sales Graduate Rafael Manuel Hernandez 122 Mark E. Casse 5/1
11 11Hicksy (KY) Antonio A. Gallardo 121 Kevin Attard 4/1
12 12The Minkster (ON) David Moran 122 Daniel J. Vella 3/1