Stormcast put on quite a display when taking the field gate-to-wire in the CA$153,740 Bessarabian Stakes (G3) Nov. 9 at Woodbine, defeating older rivals by a half-length for trainer Mark Casse.
Making her eighth start in the Bessarabian, Stormcast entered the seven-furlong contest a stakes-winning 3-year-old, having captured the second leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, the Bison City Stakes, Aug. 10. The Mitole filly followed up that win with a narrow runner-up effort in the third leg of the series, the Sept. 8 Wonder Where Stakes.
Cutting back in trip, jockey Rafael Hernandez sent Stormcast to the lead and she paved the way through early fractions of :23.60 and :46.62. Pulling away from the field at the top of the stretch, she fended off the late-closing Love to Shop, the 5-2 favorite, safe under the wire in a final time of 1:22.43 on the synthetic Tapeta main track.
Tripolina, entered in the Nov. 14 Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale, finished third.
Stormcast ($8.40), is raced by K E M Racing Stable, who purchased her for $95,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Two Races Cancelled Over Safety Concerns
During the race, Owen's Tour Guide, owned by Tequesta Racing and trained by W. V. Armata, suffered a fatal injury and was humanely euthanized. Jockey Jose Campos walked away uninjured. The breakdown was the second on the Saturday card at Woodbine and led to the cancellation of the remaining two races on the card, including the CA$175,000 Autumn Stakes (G2).
Woodbine released a statement Saturday evening that after consultation with industry stakeholders, the decision to cancel was made "in the best interest of equine safety."
The Autumn Stakes will be rescheduled (as drawn) for Nov.16.
Social Dancer was euthanized earlier in the day after race 2, which was also contested on the main track. The filly's rider, David Moran, was reported by Woodbine Communications as "OK" following the accident.
Video: Bessarabian S. (G3)
Elysian Field Back on Top in Maple Leaf Score
Last year's Woodbine Oaks heroine Elysian Field got back on track in the CA$159,990 Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) with a come-from-behind 1 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/4-mile event for fillies and mares. Elysian Field was one of two winners on the Woodbine Saturday card for trainer Mark Casse.
A 4-year-old daughter of Hard Spun , Elysian Field raced in 10th of eleven down the backstretch under jockey Sahin Civaci. Launching a six-wide assault down the lane after an eye-catching move rounding for home, Elysian Field roared past King's Plate Stakes heroine Caitlinhergrtness at the sixteenth pole and continued to pour it on to the finish.
Returning $8.70 as the second choice, Elysian Field stopped the clock in 2:02.14 on the main track.
Millie Girl closed for second over Queen Regent in third.
Caitlinhergrtness faded to fourth in her first try against older fillies and mares after taking the lead past the three-furlong marker. The Kevin Attard trainee was exiting a third-place showing in Keeneland's Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) Oct. 12.
"I was happy settling back and watching everything unfold," Civaci said. "She's a very professional horse. It's always nice to sit on these types of horses, they do what you ask. She has some class, and she knows how to run."
Elysian Field registered her highest Equibase Speed figure to date, a 113, with her Maple Leaf score. Owned in partnership by Gary Barber and Team Valor International, the filly increased her earnings to $669,381.
