After handily defeating her own sex in her last two starts, Millie Girl will face males for the first time in the CA$150,000 Valedictory Stakes (G3) Dec. 3 at Woodbine.
The Valedictory, luring an overflow field of 14, is the final graded stakes race on the Woodbine stakes calendar.
Millie Girl, trained by Catherine Day Phillips for Kingfield Racing Stable, Braconcrest, and Apricot Valley Thoroughbreds, appears up to the challenge on paper. The 106 Equibase Speed Figure she received for her come-from-behind victory in the Ontario Matron Stakes (G3) two back over the Woodbine tapeta is one of the highest in the field. While she’s never routed the Valedictory’s 1 1/2-mile trip before, the 5-year-old scored a handy 2-length win in the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) over 1 1/4 miles in her most recent outing.
Rafael Hernandez, who piloted Millie Girl to success in the Ontario Matron and Maple Leaf, will be back aboard the Hard Spun filly. Millie Girl will have to overcome the 11 post again as she did in the Maple Leaf in Sunday’s race.
Fifteen-time Sovereign Award-winning trainer Mark Casse will saddle a trio for the Valedictory in Conglomerate , Palazzi , and Win for the Money . Gary Barber’s Palazzi represents the trainer’s best chance in the race. The Pioneerofthe Nile gelding, although a well-beaten fourth in the Canadian International (G1T), was a winner of the Singspiel Stakes (G3T) on the turf here Sept. 9.
