Sixth in his last start in the Forbidden Apple at Saratoga, Corelli once again was at the back of the pack in the Singspiel, seventh for the first six furlongs with only Woodbridge behind him. Peace of Ekati held the lead for the first six furlongs, setting fractions of :25.90 for the first quarter, :50.55 for the first half, and 1:14.91 for the three-quarters of a mile. Belichick, who sat a length behind Peace of Ekati throughout the first three-quarters of a mile, moved to the lead on the final turn, his advantage a half-length going into the stretch.

Kimura took Corelli through an opening on the turn, building up momentum to challenge Belichick's lead with a furlong to go. The son of Point of Entry took over at that point, pulling away to win the Singspiel by a length and three-quarters. English Conqueror was second, Belichick holding on for third. Theregoesjojo, Primo Touch, Peace of Ekati, Eons, and Woodbridge rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the mile and a quarter was 2:01.70. Find this race's chart here.

Corelli paid $9.80, $4.90, and $3.10. English Conqueror paid $9.20 and $4.80. Belichick paid $2.70 to show.

Bred in Kentucky by George Strawbridge, Jr., Corelli is a 6-year-old gelding by Point of Entry out of Vignette, by Diesis. Owned by Augustin Stable and trained by Jonathan Thomas, the victory in the G3 Singspiel improves Corelli to 2-0-1 in 2021, with a lifetime record of five wins in 18 starts for career winnings of $270,011.

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The stakes feature for four-year-olds and up was run at a distance of about 1 1/8 miles.

With Patrick Husbands up for leading trainer Mark Casse, multiple graded stakes winner March to the Arch settled back in fifth early on behind Belichick and Theregoesjojo as a front-end duel ensued between Admiralty Pier and Primo Touch.

The battle for the lead persisted through early fractions of :23.14 and :45.32, and continued all the way into the stretch, with the top pair as much as 10 lengths in front of rivals approaching the turn.

However, March to the Arch saved ground on the bend then rallied outside of Belichick down the stretch. He reeled in the tiring leaders and went on to score by a widening 4 ½ lengths in 1:45.15 over the 'good' course, with Belichick finishing second.

Theregoesjojo edged out Primo Touch in a photo for show a half-length back while Current was fifth followed by Sir Sahib, Admiralty Pier, Woodbridge, and Mnemba Island.

“He's classy. Everybody would like to ride a horse like him,” said Husbands. “He's got a serious, serious turn of foot.”

Fresh off a runner-up performance in the Grade 3 Dominion Day at the start of July to open his six-year-old campaign, March to the Arch was sent postward as the 6-5 favorite here and paid $4.40 to win.

“In the last race, from reading the Form, I could see that there was no pace and he's a closer. When we got to the first turn, I saw it and I thought 'Oh my God.' So I had to press that horse [winner Mighty Heart] the whole way and he still hung in there, you know,” said Husbands in reference to March to the Arch's season's debut when he forced the pace early down the backstretch. “It wasn't his style, but he still came back today and showed you he was a good horse.”

Owned by Live Oak Plantation, the homebred Arch-Daveron gelding won the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes over the E.P. Taylor turf last year prior to his second-place effort in the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile. Today, he notched his eighth career win from 27 starts while pushing his bankroll over the $1 million mark in Canadian earnings.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues at Woodbine Racetrack on Thursday with a 1:10 p.m. post time for the eight-race card.

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The Ontario-bred son of Dramedy enters Thursday's $150,000 feature event, to be contested over 1-1/16 miles on the Tapeta, fresh off a victory in the Blame Stakes on May 29 at Churchill Downs.

After taking the first two-thirds of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown during his sophomore season, Mighty Heart finished seventh in the Breeders' Stakes final leg, won by stablemate Belichick, and fourth in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby, both at Woodbine.

He opened his four-year-old campaign in mid-April giving way late to finish third in a Keeneland allowance race before returning to the stakes spotlight.

Owned and bred by Larry Cordes, Mighty Heart has four wins from 10 career starts, with his latest earning him millionaire status.

Jockey Daisuke Fukumoto, who was aboard for the popular one-eyed colt's Triple Crown bid, will be back in the irons for the Dominion Day with Mighty Heart starting from post four in the seven-horse field.

The aforementioned Breeders' Stakes champion Belichick will also be competing in the Dominion Day for NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods. Luis Contreras will be back aboard the Lemon Drop Kid colt, who has finished no lower than third in all six of his career starts while banking more than $500,000 in purse earnings.

A runner-up in the Queen's Plate and Grade 3 Ontario Derby, Belichick also finished second in his 2021 debut, missing by just a nose when running back on the turf, in a 1-1/16-mile allowance race on May 13 at Churchill Downs.

Scheduled as the seventh of eight races on the Canada Day card, the Dominion Day also features the Mark Casse-conditioned graded stakes winners Lookin to Strike, March to the Arch and Skywire.

Returning to action on Thursday following an injury, jockey Rafael Hernandez will partner with Skywire, who was named Canada's 2020 Champion Older Main Track Male thanks in part to a pair of Grade 2 stakes wins, the Eclipse and Autumn, last year at Woodbine for owners Gary Barber and Lucio Tucci.

Other contenders in the field include Malibu Mambo, now trained by Michael Doyle for Stronach Stables, and Atone for trainer Eoin Harty and owner Godolphin LLC.

First race post time is 1:20 p.m., with the Dominion Day scheduled for approximately 4:24 p.m.

$150,000 Dominion Day Stakes (Grade 3)

1 – Lookin to Strike – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

2 – March to the Arch – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

3 – Atone – Justin Stein – Eoin Harty

4 – Mighty Heart – Daisuke Fukumoto – Josie Carroll

5 – Malibu Mambo – David Moran – Michael Doyle

6 – Belichick – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

7 – Skywire – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

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Classic Winner Makes Seasonal Debut…
7th-CD, $102K, Alw, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, post time: 7:54 p.m. ET
LNJ Foxwoods and NK Racing's Canadian Classic winner BELICHICK (Lemon Drop Kid) makes his first start south of the border as he kicks off his 4-year-old campaign. The $300K Keeneland September acquisition was runner-up in last year's Queen's Plate over the Woodbine synthetic, then successfully stretched out to a mile and a half to take the grassy Breeders' S. by four lengths last October. The bay was last seen running on for second in the GIII Ontario Derby back on the main track Nov. 21. TJCIS PPs

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Ridden by Kazushi Kimura, Field Pass found a seam in deep stretch and recorded a one-length win as the 5-2 second choice, as he held off Breeders' Stakes champ Belichick (also by Lemon Drop Kid) and a game Malibu Mambo to win the 1 1/8-mile added-money event. Mutuel favorite, Mighty Heart, who won the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes, finished fourth.

It was Mighty Heat who seized control of the 3-year-old race early on, with Malibu Mambo, Field Pass and Dune of Pilat keeping tabs on the Maryland-bred grey through an opening quarter-mile in :24.30 and a half-mile clocked in :47.92.

As Rafael Hernandez urged Mighty Heart to continue his front-running ways, Malibu Mambo, under Justin Stein, and Belichick, with Luis Contreras in the irons, began to circle in on the leader. Meanwhile, Field Pass found himself in traffic trouble, as Kimura worked to find an opening with the Three Diamonds Farm silk bearer.

In deep stretch, Kimura and Field Pass bulled their way between Belichick and Malibu Mambo en route to the Michael Maker trainee's sixth career win in 15 starts.

The well-traveled colt covered the distance in an impressive 1:48.35, just missing the track record of 1:48.24 established by Global Access on September 28, 2019.

“My planning was that I didn't want to get too forward, but I didn't want to send him to the front,” said Kimura. “That was the perfect position, just waiting for room.”

The win was the fifth from nine starts on the campaign for Field Pass, who now has a trio of Grade 3s (the others are this year's runnings of the Jeff Ruby Steaks, and Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes).

He arrived for his first Woodbine start after back-to-back finishes in a pair of Grade 2 events, the American Turf Stakes on September 5 at Churchill Downs, and the Twilight Derby on October 18 at Santa Anita.

With the Ontario Derby win, Field Pass, who broke his maiden in his second start on July 13, 2019, at Saratoga, is 6-2-3 from 15 starts.

“Such a classy horse,” praised Kimura. “I've watched him many times, winning replays. He's nice, a nice horse.”

Field Pass paid $7.70, $4.50, and $2.80, while Belichick returned $5.30 and $3.40. Malibu Mambo, the 2020 Queen's Plate winter book favorite, paid $3.90 to show. The 1-2 exactor paid $27.60, while a 1-2-8 triactor came back $144. A $1 Superfecta of 1-2-8-6 (Mighty Heart) returned $214.55.

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The sentimental favorite is the 8-year-old Pink Lloyd (Old Forester), but he will face one of the toughest tests in his career when he goes in the GII Kennedy Road S. A loss could open the door for 3-year-olds Belichick (Lemon Drop Kid) and Mighty Heart (Dramedy), who, combined, swept the Canadian Triple Crown races for trainer Josie Carroll.

Starship Jubilee (Indy Wind), who beat males in the GI Woodbine Mile, may be the best horse who was based at Woodbine this year, but she is not eligible for the Sovereign Awards because she hasn’t met the minimum requirement of having three starts in Canada this year.

The Kennedy Road will be the last start this year for Pink Lloyd, who, at age 8, hasn’t slowed down. He is 4-for-4 on the year and remains one of the most popular horses in recent years in Canada.

“At his age, 99% of the horses take a step back,” said trainer Bob Tiller. “There are horses running in $8,000 claimers that he ran against as a 4-year-old. That he’s still at that level at this age is unbelievable. He’s from outer space. He loves running and is just a very happy horse.”

Pink Lloyd is 26 for 31 lifetime and has not lost a race since 2018, but rarely has he faced the type of field that will line up against him in the six-furlong Kennedy Road. The biggest threat may come from Ride a Comet (Candy Ride {Arg}). Trained by Mark Casse and the winner of the 2018 GII Del Mar Derby, he returned after a 25-month layoff to win a Woodbine allowance Oct. 16.

“Ride a Comet is an extremely, extremely talented horse,” Casse said. “I was very impressed with his first race in over two years. I thought it was a tremendous race. He won with ease. This race is a little shorter than he prefers, but we’ve got to give him a shot. He’s had a couple of injuries along the way, but he’s very healthy now. If he can stay healthy, he will be a horse to be reckoned with throughout North America, not just Woodbine, in 2021.”

Silent Poet (Silent Name {Jpn}) is another Kennedy Road starter who could easily spring the upset. He is 4-for-5 on the year and has won the GII Nearctic S. and the GII Connaught Cup, but has little experience on a synthetic surface. Should he win the Kennedy Road, he may also be in the mix for Horse of the Year.

“This is certainly one of the toughest fields our horse has ever faced,” Tiller said. “There have been two or three other times where it looked like he might be in trouble and he got it done. But this is a tough race, a salty race. There’s no question about that. There are two very good horse in there that he has to beat. (Silent Poet) is a very, very good horse. He’s done all his winning on the turf, but ran respectfully on (Tapeta) when he tried it and I think he’s a better horse now than he was then. I totally respect him. The race for (Ride a Comet) the other day was awesome. I very much respect him.”

Pink Lloyd will carry 128 pounds, two more than Silent Poet and seven more than Ride a Comet.

Mighty Heart, a one-eyed horse, won the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Queens Plate S. and the Prince of Wales S. only to come up well short in the final leg, the Breeders’ S. on the grass. He finished seventh that day, beaten 20 1/4 lengths after getting hooked up in an early pace battle with a 101-1 shot. Carroll has since replaced jockey Daisuke Fukumoto with Woodbine’s second leading rider, Rafael Hernandez. That may help and so, too, could the return to the Tapeta surface. Mighty Heart has run poorly in his two career tries on the grass.

But the Breeders’ S. was not a lost race for Carroll, who won it with the rapidly improving Belichick. Still a maiden entering the 12-furlong race, he won by four lengths. The main question for him Saturday will be the turn back in distance to a mile-and-an eighth for the GIII Ontario Derby.

Both Mighty Heart and Belichick will be facing open company after going through the Canadian Triple Crown races, which are restricted to Canadian-breds.

“It’s a pretty tough race,” Carroll said. “It’s not just the two of them. There are some pretty nice horses in there and it’s a solid race. Both of my horses came out of their last race in really good order so there was no reason not to go on with them.”

The main threats include Field Pass (Lemon Drop Kid), a Mike Maker-trained horse who won the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks S. in his lone try on a synthetic surface and has since won the GIII Transylvania S. Casse will be represented by Lucky Curlin (Curlin), who is coming off a second-place finish in the Toronto Cup S.

“When it comes to Horse of the Year, there are some deserving horses,” Carroll said. “If Mighty Heart were to win this race after winning the two Triple Crown races, I think he’d be a pretty legitimate contender. If Belichick wins, I am not sure the voters would think he had accomplished enough. We’ll see.”

Pink Lloyd was named Canadian Horse of the Year in 2017. Last year, despite going 6-for-6, he was nosed out by Starship Jubilee.

No horse older than six has ever been named Horse of the Year in Canada and if it’s going to happen this year Pink Lloyd will have to turn in one of the best races of his career on Saturday.

“It’s always a tough vote,” Tiller said. “They are all good horses. What happens here this week will decide a lot. Our horse is undefeated as an 8-year-old and is an unbelievably special horse. But I always feel that you have to respect any horse that does great things. Mighty Heart is a very good horse. He certainly deserves to win it. We have to go out there on Saturday and do it. I am very confident that he will run a huge race.”

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Multiple Sovereign Award recipient and 23-time stakes champion Pink Lloyd will seek to top the Kennedy Road charts for the third time, having won the event in 2017 and 2019.

Trained by Robert Tiller for Entourage Stable, the 8-year-old gelded son of Old Forester is unbeaten in four starts – all stakes – this year.

His latest tour de force was a victory in the Vigil Stakes (G3) on Sept. 5, an effort that pushed Pink Lloyd's career earnings over $2 million (CDN). It was also his fourth straight Vigil Crown.

Pink Lloyd launched his 2020 campaign with a triumph in the Jacques Cartier (G3) on June 25, followed by a win in the Shepperton Stakes on July 23, a Bold Venture (G3) score on Aug. 15, and a one-length win in the Vigil.

“We're both very happy,” said Tiller. “He's doing well. We haven't run for two-and-a-half months, so we're in new territory. That's the big question, 'Is it going to help him or is it going to hurt him?' He's eight, but I can't worry about all of that stuff. I've done my job and he's doing his job. I think he's in good order. There are going to be some tough horses in there, some tough competition. But as far as Pink Lloyd's concerned, it's a horse race. We're going into it very happy and I think he'll be very fit and happy. Hopefully, he's not too sharp because when he does, he sometimes can get a little goofy at the gate.”

Pink Lloyd previously reeled off 11 consecutive victories from 2017 into 2018, and is currently riding a 10-race win streak following an unblemished season in 2019. He has delivered his connections six Sovereign Awards.

Although coming up with more superlatives to describe the star of his barn isn't an easy task, Tiller finds a way.

“He's doing very, very well, and I expect a big race out of him. If you look at his record, he does well about 14 months out of the year. Well, at least 13. All you have to do is look at his record. He runs well in the cold and he runs well in the hot.

“I talk to him 10 times a day. He's bobbing his head outside the door. It's almost like he can hear you. He's just a super-amazing animal. I'm getting older and he's getting older, and maybe we're getting long in the tooth, but he owes us nothing. We'll always love him.”

As will local racing fans, who regard Pink Lloyd as a bona fide rock star.

“I don't know what people say on social media,” said Tiller, who has his own Instagram account. “But they do say nice things? Well, that's just great to hear. I'm going to be 71 on Dec. 11, so I'm not a big computer guy. I've been doing this for 54 years, and I'm still doing it. But you realize that you're only as good as you are because of your horses. It's like a hockey coach – if you don't have the good players, you're in trouble. Good players make you. But I think we've done very well managing this horse and our other horses. As far as 'Pinky,' there are just no words for him. He's running because he wants to run. He just likes what he does. And it's nice to know people appreciate that. It will be a sad day when this all ends, but it will also be a happy day. I never thought he would turn into this monster that he is. He's a legend.”

In 31 career starts, Pink Lloyd is 26-1-1. His dam, Gladiator Queen, was 2-2-2 from 17 starts. David Sorokolit bred the grey daughter of Great Gladiator.

Dual Hall of Fame conditioner Mark Casse sends out the pair of Ride a Comet and Souper Stonehenge.

Owned by John Oxley and My Meadowview Farm LLC, Ride a Comet, a 5-year-old son of Candy Ride (ARG), made a spectacular return to racing after a 25-month absence.

Under Patrick Husbands, the Kentucky-bred, who took the 2018 Del Mar Derby (G2T), recorded a two-length win at seven panels on the Woodbine main track on Oct. 16.

“Ride a Comet is an extremely, extremely talented horse,” praised Casse. “I was very impressed with his first race in over two years. I thought it was a tremendous race. He won with ease. This race is a little shorter than he prefers, but we've got to give him a shot. He's had a couple of injuries along the way, but he's very healthy now. If he can stay healthy, he will be a horse to be reckoned with throughout North America, not just Woodbine, in 2021.”

A 4-year-old son of Speightstown, bred and owned by Live Oak Plantation, Super Stonehenge also comes into Sunday's engagement off a victory.

The Florida-bred powered to a one-length win over 5 ½ furlongs on the Woodbine Tapeta on Oct. 4.

“Super Stonehenge is a horse that we've always thought was extremely talented. He had a throat issue that set him back, and we gave him some time. I thought his last race was really good. This is a big step for him. Unlike Ride a Comet, who has competed with the best horses in North America, Super Stonehenge hasn't got there yet, but he's a horse we like a lot. We think he can be an extremely good 2021 horse.”

Other starters include Silent Poet, a 5-year-old son of Silent Name (JPN), who goes for his third straight score. The Stronach Stables' homebred arrives at the Ontario Derby off a half-length triumph in the Nearctic (G2T).

Sporting a record of 10-4-2 from 18 career starts, Silent Poet tries the Tapeta for the first time since a runner-up performance in the Sir Barton Stakes, on Dec. 2, 2018.

Casse is looking forward to what should be one of the most compelling stakes on the 2020 Woodbine calendar.

“This is going to be a heck of race… it's a great race.”

Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes champion Mighty Heart will meet up with stablemate and Breeders' Stakes victor Belichick in the $125,000 Ontario Derby, set for 1 1/8 miles on the Woodbine Tapeta.

After Mighty Heart took the first two legs of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown series, Belichick turned the tables on the bay colt in the 1 ½-mile Breeders' Stakes on Oct. 24, putting an end to Mighty Heart's quest to become the country's first horse to sweep all three races since Wando achieved the feat in 2003.

The Ontario Derby, for 3-year-olds, will mark the first race for both since the Breeders'.

Hall of Fame trainer Josie Carroll, enjoying an outstanding 2020 campaign, is looking forward to seeing them back in action.

“I couldn't be happier with how they both came out of that last race and how they are coming into this one. They're doing really, really well.”

Owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwood, Belichick is now 1-2-1 from four starts in his career.

The son of Lemon Drop Kid, unraced at two, finished third in his career bow on July 4, following it up with a runner-up performance in his second start on Aug. 1. After his second-place finish in the Plate, Belichick broke his maiden in style, taking the Breeders' Stakes by four lengths.

“They kind of broke early in the race so I just tried to see them and relax my horse as much as I can,” said jockey Luis Contreras after the Breeders' win. “He was very uncomfortable; this horse has a different style to run so I just let him be happy wherever he wants to be.

“Turning for home, I was just in hand all the way to the quarter pole and I asked him to run from the stretch home and he did. I was just watching, just feeling my horse at the same time. And he was doing great the whole way. He came into this race very ready, good thing for Josie and all the crew.”

Carroll is hoping for a similar performance on Saturday.

“It might be a little short for him, but he's just continuing to get better and better with each race. Obviously, it was a tremendous effort in the Breeders'. It was very impressive.”

One-eyed Mighty Heart, who garnered big attention in his quest to win the Canadian Triple Crown, will look to rebound off his seventh-place effort in the Breeders' Stakes.

Bred and owned by Larry Cordes, Mighty Heart, a bay son of Dramedy, was at the top of his game in taking the Queen's Plate at Woodbine on Sept. 12 and the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on Sept. 29.

Carroll expects a strong effort from the Ontario-bred, who will have Rafael Hernandez in the irons on Saturday.

“He's a horse that just tries every time he runs. He'll give you his all every race.”

Mark Casse will be represented by Deviant, who was fourth in the Breeders' Stakes, and Lucky Curlin, who has two runner-up stakes results to his name.

A chestnut son of Daredevil, Deviant will chase his third career win in what will be his 11th lifetime start.

“I thought he ran really well in the Breeders',” offered Casse. “He had a crazy thing happen to him. We trained him about two-and-a-half months ago, and he trained on the main track and came back. When he got back to the barn, he was lame. Somehow, through his training and walking back, he had about a three-inch screw stuck in his foot. We don't where he got it. So he missed a bit of time and I was worried he might miss the Breeders' Stakes. But he ran well and had a little bit of a troubled trip turning for home. I'm not positive he's as good on the synthetic as he is on the turf, but we're going to give him a try.”

Bred and owned by John Oxley, Lucky Curlin, a chestnut son of Curlin, comes into the race off back-to-back second-place finishes in the Marine Stakes (G3) and Toronto Cup Stakes.

The Kentucky-bred is 2-2-3 from 11 career starts.

“Lucky Curlin is a horse we had high hopes for early on in his career, and he disappointed us,” admitted Casse. “But he's come around really well. I thought his last two races have been improved. He's equally effective, turf or synthetic, I would expect him to run well.”

Casse is happy to have the Ontario Derby contested at this point in the season.

“This is the time of the year when you're trying to run against straight 3-year-olds. I think it's extremely smart that Woodbine moved this race back. I think it gives the three-year-olds one more chance, the horses that ran in the Queen's Plate and those types of races. It gives them one more shot to race against their own age group, which I think is a good thing. That was a great move by Woodbine.”

Malibu Mambo, considered at one point a top Queen's Plate contender, will make his third start of the season.

Trained by Kevin Attard for Stronach Stables, the dark bay son of Point of Entry won his most recent start, a three-length victory over 1 1/16 miles on the Woodbine main track on October 11.

Also on tap Saturday, the $175,000 Bessarabian Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, three-year-olds & upward, contested at seven furlongs on the Tapeta, and the $150,000 Ontario Damsel for Ontario-bred three-year-old fillies, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta.

Post time for Saturday's 11-race card is 1:25 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$175,000 KENNEDY ROAD STAKES (Race 9)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Souper Stonehenge – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse

2 – Ride a Comet – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

3 – Eskiminzin – Darryll Holland – Carlos Grant

4 – Silent Poet – Justin Stein – Nicholas Gonzalez

5 – Dixie's Gamble – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

6 – Roaring Forties – Kazushi Kimura – Daniel Vella

7 – Pink Lloyd – Rafael Hernandez – Robert Tiller

$125,000 ONTARIO DERBY (Race 8)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Field Pass – Kazushi Kimura – Michael Maker

2 – Belichick – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

3 – Mnemba Island – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Julia Carey

4 – Lucky Curlin – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

5 – Deviant* – Jerome Lermyte – Mark Casse

6 – Mighty Heart – Rafael Hernandez – Josie Carroll

7 – Dune of Pilat – David Moran – Brendan Walsh

8 – Malibu Mambo – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

* denotes supplemented

$175,000 BESSARABIAN (Race 10)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Souper Escape – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Michael Trombetta

2 – Boardroom – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll

3 – Painting – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll

4 – Artie's Princess – Kazushi Kimura – Wesley Ward

5 – Amalfi Coast – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

6 – Jakarta – Daisuke Fukumoto – Michael Maker

7 – Our Secret Agent – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

8 – Outburst – David Moran – Eddie Kenneally

$150,000 ONTARIO DAMSEL (Race 3)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Curlin's Voyage – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll

2 – Merveilleux – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard

3 – Afleet Katherine – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

4 – Ann of Cleves – Keveh Nicholls – Ricky Griffith

5 – Ami's Samurai – Daisuke Fukumoto – Josie Carroll

6 – Justleaveitalone – David Moran – Nicholas Gonzalez

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Coached by conditioner Josie Carroll, who also trains Mighty Heart, Belichick proved to be much the best in the 1 1/2-mile turf marathon, and final jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.

Mighty Heart, the one-eyed wonder colt, was looking to become the first horse since Wando in 2003 to sweep all three races in the series. The bay Ontario-bred, bred and owned by Larry Cordes, was impressive in winning both the Queen's Plate at Woodbine on Sept. 12 and the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie on Sept. 29.

On this day, however, it was Belichick's time to shine over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, courtesy of a maiden-breaking masterpiece.

It was Mighty Heart, sent off as the even-money choice, who was immediately directed to the front by Daisuke Fukumoto. The son of Dramedy was quickly engaged by longshot Kunal into the first turn, as the duo took their rivals through an opening quarter-mile in a brisk :23.69. Told It All and Clayton (the bay son of Bodemeister, who was third in the Plate and second in the Prince of Wales) were well back in third and fourth, respectively. Belichick, sent off as the 3-1 third choice, sat sixth under confident handling from Luis Contreras.

Mighty Heart and Kunal continued their front-end battle after a half-mile posted in :47.45, still well ahead of their closest pursuers. Belichick, still waiting for his cue from Contreras, began to pick up momentum moving into fifth spot.

After three-quarters in 1:13.02, the field began to converge on the leaders, with Contreras steering Belichick to the outside to take aim at the tiring front-runners. Just before the turn for home, Belichick took command as Mighty Heart began to fade to the inside.

At the stretch call (timed in 2:07.38), Belichick was in full flight, dashing away from his rivals with ease, as late-running 54-1 outsider Meyer rallied to take the second spot. English Conqueror got up for third, a half-length in front of 41-1 Deviant for the show award. Mighty Heart finished seventh. Olliemyboy, 11th in the Queen's Plate, was scratched.

Final time for the race was 2:32.51 over “good” ground.

“They kind of broke early in the race so I just tried to see them and relax my horse as much as I can,” said Contreras of the early front end speed. “He was very uncomfortable; this horse has a different style to run so I just let him be happy wherever he wants to be.

“Turning for home, I was just in hand all the way to the quarter pole and I asked him to run from the stretch home and he did. I was just watching, just feeling my horse at the same time. And he was doing great the whole way. He came into this race very ready, good thing for Josie and all the crew.”

Fukumoto didn't expect to be on the engine with Mighty Heart.

“Today he broke good and I didn't plan on going to the front. He was sharp like in the Queen's Plate, I tried to take hold and he relaxed a little bit in the backstretch, but with the mile and a half you need the stamina. I think he just got tired. He tried hard today, I tried to take hold too … but that's racing. He gave me many experiences and I'm so proud of him. I want everyone to keep following him when he runs again next time.”

Said Carroll, “I told him [Fukumoto], 'Let's see how this falls out. If you make the lead, watch your fractions … it's a long, long race.' The horse broke well, he found himself up there, unfortunately another horse dogged him the whole way and he couldn't get the horse to come off the bridle and relax.”

The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee was impressed, but not surprised by the winner's strong showing.

“I've said from the very start that Belichick is a very, very special horse that's just coming into his own and I think he showed that today. He's a powerful horse. The Queen's Plate was a breakout race for him and we couldn't come back that quickly in the Prince of Wales. A horse needs a little time to regroup from something like that, a young, inexperienced horse. And regroup he did.”

Owned by NK Racing and LNJ Foxwood, Belichick is now 1-2-1 from four starts in his career.

The son of Lemon Drop Kid, unraced at two, finished third in his career bow on July 4, following it up with a runner-up performance in his second start on August 1.

After his second-place finish in the Plate, Belichick's connections drew up a perfect game plan for the Breeders'.

“He's a different horse,” noted Carroll. “He was so distracted the first race. I came over here with high expectations of him, I knew in the paddock I was in trouble … he was looking at a white pony and he was all googly-eyed at them, all over the place. And then off of that race he seasoned a little, and then more so the next race, and then today when I was back at the barn he was sleeping all day, stretched right out in the stall … just crashed. The nerves are all gone, he's just turned into a real professional.”

The last Canadian Triple Crown winner was the Michael Keogh-trained Wando, who put his name into the record books in 2003 as the 12th horse to win all three races.

Belichick paid $8.70, $5 and $3.40. He combined with Meyer ($30.70, $15.60) for a 9-1 exactor that returned $238.20. English Conqueror ($5.30) completed the 9-1-5 triactor, worth $1,544.60 and Deviant rounded out the 9-1-5-3 winning superfecta combination that paid $15,395.90 for $1.

Live Thoroughbred racing resumes at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday, with first race post time set for 1:10 p.m. The feature race is the $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, final jewel in the Canadian Triple Tiara series.

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Given a 3-1 chance here, Belichick raced two wide in mid-pack as his favored barnmate-prompted by longshot Kunal (Temple City)–blazed through swift early fractions of :23,69, :47.45 and 1:13.02. The field began to converge on the leaders, with Contreras steering Belichick to the outside to take aim at the tiring front-runners. Just before the turn for home, Belichick took command as Mighty Heart began to fade to the inside. Full of run from there, the $300,000 KEESEP buy struck the front in early stretch and charged clear to win by an easy four-length margin over 54-1 longshot Meyer (Singing Saint) and English Conqueror (English Channel) back in third. Mighty Heart tired through the lane, finishing seventh.

“They kind of broke early in the race so I just tried to see them and relax my horse as much as I can,” said winning rider Luis Contreras of the early speed up front. “He was very uncomfortable; this horse has a different style to run, so I just let him be happy wherever he wants to be.”

“Turning for home, I was just in hand all the way to the quarter pole and I asked him to run from the stretch home and he did. I was just watching, just feeling my horse at the same time. And he was doing great the whole way. He came into this race very ready, good thing for Josie and all the crew.”

Third on debut sprinting on the local lawn July 4, the NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods representative was second next out in a nine-panel maiden special weight on the synthetic here Aug. 1. Most recently, he finished second–beaten 7 1/2 lengths-to Mighty Heart in the Queen’s Plate Sept. 12.

“I’ve said from the very start that Belichick is a very, very special horse that’s just coming into his own and I think he showed that today,” said Carroll. “He’s a powerful horse. The Queen’s Plate was a breakout race for him and we couldn’t come back that quickly in the Prince of Wales. A horse needs a little time to regroup from something like that, a young, inexperienced horse. And regroup he did.”

As for the beaten favorite who was looking to become the first Canadian Triple Crown winner since Wando in 2003, Carroll said, “I told him [jockey Daisuke Fukumoto], ‘Let’s see how this falls out. If you make the lead, watch your fractions..it’s a long, long race.’ The horse broke well, he found himself up there, unfortunately, another horse dogged him the whole way and he couldn’t get the horse to come off the bridle and relax.”

Pedigree Notes:
Belichick, a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is a full-brother to the stakes-winning filly Season Ticket and a half to Broken Game (Broken Vow), a listed winner and group placed filly in Peru. Game produced a colt by Distorted Humor in 2019 followed by a full-sister to Belichick earlier this season. The French-bred mare was returned to Flintshire (GB) this year.

Saturday, Woodbine
BREEDERS’ S., C$401,200, Woodbine, 10-24, (S), 3yo, 1 1/2mT, 2:32.51, gd.
1–BELICHICK, 126, c, 3, by Lemon Drop Kid
                1st Dam: Game (Fr), by Montjeu (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Pretty (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
                3rd Dam: Lady Nessa, by Al Nasr (Fr)
($300,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-NK Racing
& LNJ Foxwoods; B-Sean Fitzhenry (ON); T-Josie Carroll; J-Luis
Contreras. C$240,000. Lifetime Record: 4-1-2-1, $357,666.
*1/2 to Broken Game (Broken Vow), MSW & MGSP-Per; Full to
Season Ticket, SW, $280,171.
2–Meyer, 126, g, 3, Singing Saint–Malibu Sunrise, by Malibu
Moon. O-Bruno Schickedanz; B-Gabe Grossberg (ON); T-Martin
Drexler. C$80,000.
3–English Conqueror, 126, g, 3, English Channel–Regal
Conqueror, by Sky Conqueror. O/B-JWS Farms (ON); T-Darwin
Banach. C$40,000.
Margins: 4, 3, HF. Odds: 3.35, 54.65, 12.50.
Also Ran: Deviant, Clayton, Enchant Me, Mighty Heart, Muskoka Giant, Told It All, Glorious Tribute, Kunal. Scratched: Olliemyboy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Originally slated for June 27, North America's oldest continually run race was moved to September 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the connections of Mighty Heart, it was well worth the wait.

Bred and owned by Lawrence Cordes, the son of Dramedy flew under the radar leading up to the Plate, but the Ontario-bred bay, in his first stakes test, landed in the winner's circle courtesy of a sensational coast-to-coast score in the $1 million classic.

Sent off at 13-1, Mighty Heart, trained by Josie Carroll, was directed to the front from post 13 as first-time Plate jockey Daisuke Fukumoto guided his charge over to the rail as the field passed the wire for the first time.

Mighty Heart was joined to the outside by Tecumseh's War, while Truebelieve sat third, with Plate Trial champion Clayton settling in fourth. Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser champ and Plate mutuel favorite Curlin's Voyage was forced into an outside journey as the field headed into the first turn of the 1 1/4-mile Tapeta test.

There was no change in the top four positions as Mighty Heart led the field through an opening quarter-mile in :23.57.

One-length on top after a half-mile in :47.61, Mighty Heart was still yet to be tested, but just after the 1:12.70 three-quarters mark, Curlin's Voyage, under Patrick Husbands, began a bid from eighth. Rafael Hernandez, aboard Clayton, attempted to get the jump on the Oaks champ, and soon engaged the pacesetter.

As the field turned for home, Clayton was roused to engage Mighty Heart, but to no avail, as the leader easily repelled the challenge and rocketed home to a rousing 7 1/2-length victory.

Belichick, under Slade Callaghan, rallied to grab second spot, while Clayton settled for third, a neck in front of Tecumseh's War. Curlin's Voyage, Canada's champion two-year-old filly, was a head back in fifth.

It was a one-two Plate finish for Carroll, who celebrated her third “Gallop for the Guineas” crown. The Canadian Hall of Fame inductee took the 2006 edition with Edenwold and the 2011 running with filly Inglorious.

The final time was 2:01.98, the second fastest Plate run since 1957. Izvestia, who went on to win the 1990 Triple Crown, won in 2:01 4/5.

“I was concerned for a minute or two with the quick fractions but he looked like he was settling and doing it easily,” said Carroll. “We knew he'd go all day and he sure did. You know what, he's just a very exciting horse who's come a long way for Mr. Cordes, who's had a lot of confidence in him from the start.”

Fukumoto and Carroll are now a perfect three-for-three when teaming together.

“Unbelievable,” said Fukumoto, making his first Plate start. “I can't explain…he's feeling good today, he bolt good. I saw that nobody [was leaving] so I just sent him and he just kept going. After the wire, he still kept going, he didn't stop there.”

Mighty Heart is now 2-0-1 from five starts. He broke his maiden in his third start, a 4 1/4-length score at 1 1/16 miles on July 11 at Woodbine, and arrived at the Plate off a third-place performance at the same distance.

“He was sharp today,” praised Fukumoto. “I thought it was fast but I took the lead so I can't do anything, you know…I let him go. He only has one eye, but he's got a big heart, a mighty heart.”

The $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, a 1 3/16-mile race over Fort Erie's dirt oval, is the next race in the tri-surface OLG Canadian Triple Crown series, which winds up with the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Wando, in 2003, was the last horse to sweep the series and the seventh since its exception in 1959.

Mighty Heart returned $28.50, $13.80 and $8.20, combining with Belichick ($20.90, $12.10) for a $730.40 (13-3) exactor. A 13-3-12 (Clayton, $4.20 to show) triactor paid $1,878.70 for a $1 ticket, while a $1 Superfecta [13-3-12-14 (Tecumseh's War)] was worth $19,389.75.

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