Souper Hoity Toity Outlasts Moira in Belle Mahone

Souper Hoity Toity  held off 2022 Canadian Horse of the Year Moira  to win the June 3 Belle Mahone Stakes (G3) by a neck. The win in the CA$157,800 race completed a Woodbine afternoon stakes sweep for the legendary connections of owner Live Oak Plantation, trainer Mark Casse, and jockey Patrick Husbands, coming one race after Our Flash Drive  won the CA$181,250 Royal North Stakes (G2T). 

Souper Hoity Toity won four stakes at Woodbine last season but finished second in Sovereign Awards voting for champion 3-year-old female behind Moira, who had taken the Queen's Plate and the Woodbine Oaks. The Belle Mahone was their first head-to-head meeting since their 2-year-old season when Moira finished second in the 2021 Mazarine Stakes (G3) ahead of Souper Hoity Toity in fourth.

In the 1 1/16-mile race, Souper Hoity Toity took the race right to Moira by grabbing the early lead. The Uncle Mo   filly dictated the pace through comfortable fractions of :25.26, :50.75, and 1:14.87, entering the stretch with a one-length lead and plenty left. Moira saved ground around both turns and angled out at the top of the lane with a reasonable chance. But the easy lead played to Souper Hoity Toity's advantage—as did, most likely, having a 2023 start under her belt—and the Uncle Mo   filly dug in to fend off Moira by a neck in 1:44.49 on Tapeta.

Husbands said in studying the past performances of the race, he did not see any speed in the race and formulated a plan to try to beat rail-drawn Moira.

"The only way I beat this filly today is I've got to walk this race. If I walk this race, she can't get out," he said of his strategy.

He added that his mount dug in when she saw Moira angled out for a wide rally down the stretch. "She's all gutsy," Husbands said of Souper Hoity Toity.

Purrfect  was third, three lengths behind Moira.

A Kentucky-bred out of the winning Speightstown   mare Town Tour , Souper Hoity Toity paid $13.70 to win as the public's second choice behind heavily favored Moira. 

Our Flash Drive Earns Fifth Woodbine Stakes Win

Our Flash Drive edged clear in the late stages to win the Royal North by 1 1/4 lengths, covering 6 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:13.88. It was the third straight stakes win at Woodbine for the 5-year-old Ghostzapper   mare and her fifth stakes win there overall, going back to her 2-year-old season when she won the 2021 Selene Stakes (G3). 

Our Flash Drive also has one win away from Woodbine in the restricted De La Rose Stakes in 2022 at Saratoga Race Course. Her overall record now stands at 7-3-1 from 16 starts. The betting favorite paid $4.30 to win. 

Sweet Enough  was no threat to the winner but kept on well for second, a neck ahead of Millie Girl  in third.