Moira , Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year, recaptured her top form, displaying the vigor of a wartime radio operator while winning the CA$200,000 Canadian Stakes (G2T) by 6 1/4 lengths at Woodbine. It was the Ghostzapper filly’s first win since taking the 2022 Queen’s Plate in similar fashion more than 12 months ago.
- The Canadian, an about 1 1/8-mile race over the E.P. Taylor turf for 3-year-olds and up, went postward with six fillies and mares.
- Moira completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.04 over “good” going. Skims was second, Atomic Blonde was third, and Fev Rover fourth.
- Moira, who races for X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing, is likely to race next in the $750,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) Oct. 8 at Woodbine.
- She paid $7.90 for the win as second choice behind odds-on Fev Rover (IRE).
Emotional win for Hernandez, Attard
Winning jockey Rafael Hernandez: “Guess who is back? Moira! When she started warming up in the post parade, she started dancing, and that’s it, they weren’t going to beat her today. She’s 100%. When she turned for home, I let her switch her lead and said, ‘Come on baby, do what you know how to do.’ And she showed up today. Every time I ride her, it’s not just another horse. She has a special place in my heart.”
Winning trainer Kevin Attard: “She is a very special horse. It was a little disappointing at the start (of the season), she just had some hard racing luck. Last time, she put it together and had a good trip, just kind of ran out of ground. She looks probably the best she’s ever looked. She’s trained well and it’s just so satisfying to see her put it all together. Now, we’re stretching out to distances where she is going to excel and show her true class.”
Palazzi Makes Singspiel Third Straight Win
Gary Barber’s Palazzi won his third race in a row since returning to Woodbine this spring when the Pioneerof the Nile gelding went last to first to win the CA$150,000 Singspiel Stakes (G3T) for older horses at 1 1/4 miles on the grass. It was Palazzi’s stakes debut and represented another noticeable step forward since trainer Mark Casse gelded him in October.
Palazzi wins the Singspiel Stakes at Woodbine
- Favored Rockemperor , a grade 1 winner in the 2021 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) at Belmont Park, made the lead at the top of the lane and could not match Palazzi but was a clear second, more than five lengths ahead of Malibu Mambo in third.
- Palazzi, third choice on the board at 4-1, returned $10.50 for the win. The final time was 2:02.26.
Video: Canadian S. Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T)
Video: Pattison Singspiel S. (G3T)
