Trainer Kevin Attard sends out Grade 1 winner Last Call in Saturday's $100,000 Ruling Angel Stakes Presented by Ketel One, at Woodbine.
Set for seven furlongs on the Toronto oval Tapeta, the Ruling Angel, for 3-year-old fillies, has attracted eight starters, including last year's Grade 1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes (a Breeders' Cup a “Win and You're In” race) winner Last Call.
A daughter of English Channel-Over Served, the chestnut will make her first start of the season after closing out her rookie campaign with a sixth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.
The X-Men Racing 2 LLC and SF Racing LLC sophomore debuted last July at Woodbine finishing second behind eventual Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Cairo Consort in a 6 ½-furlong race over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.
After a fourth next time out at seven panels on the same surface, Last Call turned the tables on Cairo Consort and recorded a one-length triumph in the Natalma at 21-1.
A slow start in the Breeders' Cup ended with a solid rally that left her just over a half-length out of third spot.
“Obviously, we were very happy with how she raced last year. She really progressed throughout the season and was impressive in the Natalma. She got off slowly in the Breeders', but I thought she put in a nice run down the lane, and she galloped out well.”
Bred in Kentucky by English Channel Co-Owners & Jodi Cantwell, Last Call will get her first shot at racing on the Tapeta.
“She had a good winter and now we'll get things rolling in the Ruling Angel. I don't think she'll have any problem going from the turf to Tapeta. She's always been a horse that adapts well to any new challenge. Hopefully, she puts in another honest effort.”
Attard, who set several career-best marks in 2022 and finished a close second in the voting as Canada's champion trainer, is pleased with how the filly is heading into Saturday's race.
“We'll see how this race goes and then go from there. We know she loves the turf, and we'll find out how she takes to the Tapeta. Definitely one you love to have in your barn.”
Other starters include U.S. invader Bulsara, multiple stakes winner Collecting Flatter, last year's Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes winner Renegade Rebel, and runner-up Ryder Ryder Ryder (both trained by Mark Casse).
The Ruling Angel is listed as race seven on the 10-race card, with a first post of 1:10 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action through HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app. Live racing resumes Sunday at 1:10 p.m., highlighted by the running of the King Corrie Stakes.
FIELD FOR THE RULING ANGEL
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Collecting Flatter – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll
2 – Renegade Rebel – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
3 – Dolce Sopresa – Justin Stein – Josie Carroll
4 – Ticker Tape Home (S) – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
5 – Ryder Ryder Ryder – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
6 – Bulsara – Antonio Gallardo – Michael Trombetta
7 – Last Call – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
8 – Attabe – Sahin Civaci – Josie Carroll
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