There was a clear favorite on the tote board for Canada's premier 3-year-old filly race, the $535,166 Woodbine Oaks, and Luster looked every bit of her 3-5 odds as she strolled through the stretch to victory July 19.
Breaking from the outside in a seven-filly field and with the services of Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the irons, the daughter of Knicks Go was on cruise control while stalking Kinzie Girl's early pace of :23.54 and :48.07. She then inhaled the leader without being asked as they entered the far turn.
Dixie Law and jockey Pietro Moran took up the chase, but Velazquez sat like a statue with no concern. With everyone behind her being asked for more and not penetrating the margin, Velazquez gave a nudge entering the stretch. After a few glances under his shoulders at the eighth pole, Velazquez returned to statue form and coasted in to a 5 1/2-length victory. Dixie Law was second and Bold Time third.
The victory was a second straight in the Oaks for Velazquez and a fourth overall win from Canadian Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll.
Bred in Ontario by Ravi Sugrim and Joannie Dass, Luster was an $80,000 purchase by Ben Gowans out of the Machmer Hall Sales consignment during the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Despite the Woodbine Oaks being restricted to Canadian-bred fillies, she showed graded ability in her previous start when taking Woodbine's Selene Stakes (G3) by 1 3/4 lengths June 27.
Overall, Luster is 4-0-1 from five starts for earnings of $493,490.
It is not uncommon for the Woodbine Oaks winner to return against males in the King's Plate, the first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown and Canada's most prestigious race, and Luster looks like the type of filly worthy of taking a shot. A three-time King's Plate winner, Carroll won the race with a filly, Inglorious, in 2011, and five more fillies have joined her as winners since.
Caroll did not commit to the King's Plate Sunday, but said the way Luster won the Oaks gave her confidence about the 1 1/4-mile distance.
"Tremendously exciting horse," Carroll told Woodbine publicity. "I had some questions until today, but she certainly looks like she'll get a route of ground. She seems to be moving forward all the time."
Video: Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois (BT)
Highwaytothemoon on Road to King's Plate After Trial Win
She should stack up well against her competition as Luster completed the 1 1/8 miles of the Oaks over the Tapeta surface in 1:50.99, faster than Highwaytothemoon completed the same distance in 1:52.17 during the $143,782 Plate Trial Stakes one race earlier.
Ridden by Rafael Hernandez for trainer Dale Desruisseaux, the Ransom the Moon gelding stalked from a pocket on the rail behind fractions of :23.33, :47.84, and 1:12.32. He remained relaxed throughout and responded to Hernandez's urging to tip outside leading favorite Casson entering the stretch.
Imyourmedicineman rallied on the outside and engaged Highwaytothemoon as they put away Casson, who would lose third to a surging Military Time. Highwaytothemoon dug in and fought off his challenger, winning by a length and paying $10.30.
The Centennial Farms (Niagara)-owned gelding, bred in Ontario by James and Janeane Everatt and Arika Everatt-Meeuse aced his first start beyond 7 furlongs and earned a second straight stakes win.
"He's shown a big heart, he doesn't give up," Hernandez said. "He was in the bridle all the time and when I asked him to go, he was there ready. I tried to keep him in contention all the time, involved in the race. When I put him clear, he gave me everything he had."
Stronach Stables' Very Special acted up in the starting gate before the race, leading to his late scratch. The race then was delayed as an equine ambulance gave him a precautionary ride back to trainer Kevin Attard's barn where he would be assessed by a veterinarian, according to Woodbine.
Desruisseaux praised Highwaytothemoon's mind for handling the lengthy delay and the distance.
"He's done everything we've asked," Desruisseaux told Woodbine publicity. "That's what makes him a little bit better than everybody, his mind is so good. He wasn't washed out at all (during the delay), a lot of them were getting washed out. He was cool and calm, and he showed that in the race."
