Katerina Vassilieva's connection with horses began at the age of 11. After finishing her Master's degree in genetics, she made the decision to pursue a career in Thoroughbred racing. Vassilieva, who worked as a hotwalker, groom, exercise rider and assistant trainer, earned her trainer's license since 2011. Her home base is Woodbine, but she has campaigned successfully at several racetracks throughout the United States, including Gulfstream Park, Keeneland and Belmont Park. Her biggest star to date is Big Bazinga, who followed the Kentucky Derby trail in 2014 and gave Vassilieva the opportunity to compete in some of North America's most prestigious graded races. The multiple stakes winning trainer posted a 20 per cent win average in 2016 and a 25 per cent strike rate in 2020.

You get to the chance to be on a TV show, past or present. Which one is it and why?

“The X-Files was my favorite show growing up as a kid. Before becoming a horse trainer, I wanted to be a forensic scientist, so I really enjoyed that show because it was all about forensics, detectives and solving mysteries. That's the show I would definitely want to be on.”

What music genre gets you on the dance floor?

“I like to listen to electronic dance music, club music, essentially. I think people might be surprised that I listen to that, but I find it's very upbeat and brings my mood up. I've enjoyed that type of music since I was young. I haven't been on the dance floor lately, but I think my moves are pretty good.”

What is your food weakness?

“That's easy… cakes and pastries. Anything sweet, really. I have a huge sweet tooth. Cakes or pastries, I'll never say no. Same with donuts. Just to be humble, I might turn them down, but secretly, I would eat them.”

Other than the Queen's Plate, what's your must-see race on the Woodbine racing calendar?

“Personally speaking, I always look forward to the Grey Stakes because I had that horse Big Bazinga and he ran second in that race (in 2013). It gave us 10 points and it kickstarted our hope of running in the Kentucky Derby. That's a really exciting race for me because those are the horses that may end up running in the Derby down the line.”

Would you rather call a race or guest host as a racing analyst?

“I would definitely choose racing analyst over race caller. I don't know how race callers do what they do. Thinking on the fly like that and doing it so quickly, it's just amazing. It really is incredible how race callers are able to remember all those names and talk about their order in the race. So, I'd opt for racing analyst because I'd have more time to think about what I'd say and more time to do research so that it would sound like I knew what I was talking about.”

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The nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds is the next local prep on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, awarding the top-four finishers 10-4-2-1 qualifying points toward the Grade 1, $3 million Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs.

Eclipse Thoroughbreds and Gary Barber's God of Love, trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, is already a stakes winner over turf and Tapeta in only four starts. Two starts after capturing the Cup and Saucer in October on the Woodbine turf, the chestnut colt provided his young sire Cupid with a first graded stakes winner when taking the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Grey on Nov. 28 on the Woodbine Tapeta.

“He's a pretty good horse. If he can have the same type of form on dirt that he does on the synthetic, he'll be a force. In his last race, he ran a 4.5 Thorograph number, which puts you right there,” Casse said.

One start prior to the Grey, God of Love finished a troubled fifth in the nine-furlong Coronation Futurity on the Woodbine Tapeta after having to steady several times.

“He was the favorite in his start before the Grey and I awarded him worst trip of the year of any horse I ran last year,” Casse said. “It was a terrible, terrible trip. He checked about three or four times.”

God of Love joined Casse's winter division at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, where he has worked three times since the Grey. The Withers will be God of Love's first race outside of his native Canada.

“I think he'll end up being champion 2-year-old in Canada. The reason I sent him to Toronto was because he was a Canadian-bred,” Casse said.

Bred in Ontario by William D. Graham, God of Love is out of the Three Wonders mare No Wonder, a half-sister to Grade 1-winner Weemissfrankie, who also produced Canadian-bred stakes-winner Muskoka Wonder.

God of Love was a $100,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale, where he was consigned by Golden Thoroughbreds Training and Sales.

Other probable candidates for the Withers include Courvoisier, Smarten Up and Cooke Creek – the top-three finishers of the Jerome – as well as January 2 maiden winner Constitutionlawyer.

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God of Love broke his maiden in the Cup and Saucer S. over the Woodbine lawn Oct. 10, but was mired in traffic before closing to finish fifth as the favorite over the Tapeta in the Coronation Futurity last time out Oct. 30.

Pedigree Notes:

No Wonder, also the dam of 2018 Clarendon S. winner Muskoka Wonder (Into Mischief), has a weanling filly by Where's the Ring and was bred back to Ami's Holiday. The mare is a half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Weemissfrankie (Sunriver) and to graded placed Stop Smiling (It's No Joke).

The late breeder William Graham purchased No Wonder, in foal to Into Mischief, for $53,000 at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton February sale. In foal to Good Samaritan, No Wonder sold for $25,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale.

Winner of the 2017 GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita, Cupid is also the sire of two-time stakes winner The Sky Is Falling and graded placed Desert Dawn.

Sunday, Woodbine
GREY S.-GIII, C$174,800, Woodbine, 11-28, 2yo, 1 1/16m (AWT), 1:44.20, ft.
1–GOD OF LOVE, 122, c, 2, by Cupid
1st Dam: No Wonder, by Three Wonders
2nd Dam: Starinthemeadow, by Meadowlake
3rd Dam: Lite a Star, by Our Michael
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($77,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $9,000
Ylg '20 KEESEP; $100,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-Eclipse
Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber; B-William D. Graham
(ON); T-Mark E. Casse; J-Rafael Manuel Hernandez. C$108,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $208,993. *1/2 to Muskoka Wonder
(Into Mischief), SW, $111,436. **1st graded stakes winner for
freshman sire (by Tapit). Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Ironstone, 121, c, 2, Mr Speaker–Casey's Dreamin', by
Unbridled's Song. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. (C$7,000 Ylg '20
CANSEP). O-Tequesta Racing Inc. and Jupiter Leasing Co.;
B-Kingview Farms (ON); T-W. V. Armata. C$36,000.
3–On Thin Ice, 119, c, 2, More Than Ready–Frozen Treat, by
Dynaformer. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($140,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP). O/B-DJ Stable, LLC (KY);
T-Mark E. Casse. C$15,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, HD. Odds: 4.80, 5.05, 11.55.
Also Ran: Churchtown, Heat Merchant, Hicksy, Be Like Clint, International, Stowaway, Shamateur. Scratched: Speak Unity, The Minkster. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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In a crowded field of 12 on a snowy day at Woodbine, Churchtown was the fastest out of the gate, taking a one-length lead as the field approached the first turn. Down the backstretch, Churchtown maintained his lead with Stowaway, Ironstone, and Hicksy stalking. God of Love was next to last on the backstretch, jockey Rafael Hernandez keeping him on the outside of horses as they entered the far turn.

Four-wide into the stretch, Hernandez set God of Love down for a drive as Ironstone passed Churchtown in the Woodbine straight. In the race's final sixteenth, God of Love rallied past Ironstone and On Thin Ice to take the G3 Grey Stakes. Churchtown held on for fourth. Heat Merchant, Hicksy, Be Like Clint, International, Stowaway, and Shamateur rounded out the order of finish.

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles over the all-weather course was 1:44.20. Find this race's chart here.

God of Love paid $11.60, $5.70, and $3.40. Ironstone paid $6.10 and $5.00. On Thin Ice paid $7.00.

Bred in Ontario by William D. Graham, God of Love is by Cupid out of the Three Wonders mare No Wonder. He is owned by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, who purchased the 2-year-old colt from Golden Thoroughbreds Training and Sales for $100,000 at the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company March Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale. With his win in the G3 Grey, God of Love has two wins in four starts for career earnings of $208,993. God of Love's G3 stakes win gives sire Cupid his first graded stakes winner.

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Kevin Attard sends out two here in Hicksy (Hootenanny) and Be Like Clint (Point of Entry). A dominant second-out graduate on the local main track Oct. 3, Hicksy captured the Display S. at this oval Oct. 30. Be Like Clint earned his diploma at third asking in an off-the-turfer here Sept. 26 and was second in a track-and-trip optional claimer Nov. 6.

God of Love (Cupid) is one of three from the Mark Casse barn in this event. He broke his maiden at second asking in the grassy Cup and Saucer S. here Oct. 10 and rallied to be fifth in the Coronation Futurity. The chestnut is joined by stablemates On Thin Ice (More Than Ready) and Stowaway (Gun Runner).

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The 1 1/16-mile Mazarine has attracted a field of nine 2-year-old fillies, including Moira, a daughter of Ghostzapper who had a stellar debut in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Oct. 23 at the Toronto oval.

With jockey Justin Stein at the controls, the Adena Springs-bred miss put in a stunning rally to win going away by 4 ¼-lengths in the 1 1/16-mile tilt. The final time was 1:44.63.

Trained by Kevin Attard for owners X-Men Racing LLC, Madaket Racing LLC and SF Racing LLC, Moira managed to surpass the conditioner's lofty pre-race expectations.

“She's a very nice filly,” said Attard, who is enjoying another prosperous campaign at the Toronto oval. “I was very keen even before we ran her. Obviously, to be running in a stake and going two-turns first-time out is a bit of a risky undertaking, but I thought it was a very calculated risk. I was confident in her and it worked out really well. I thought she looked pretty impressive. This race, the Mazarine, is open company and a big step up in class but she's trained really well in the interim and I'm really excited to see her continue to develop and possibly be a very nice horse.”

High-profile bloodstock agent and owner Donato Lanni was equally impressed by Moira's curtain-raising performance.

“I was not necessarily expecting that,” admitted Lanni. “I was at the Yearling Sale [in Kentucky] and we stopped looking at the horses and went into the bar there to watch her. I was really nervous because I didn't know a whole lot about her, but Kevin mentioned that the race was coming up and he didn't want to run her short. When he told me he wanted to run her in the stake, I was initially thinking, 'Are you kidding me?' He told me not to worry. That was it.

“When I was watching the race and saw her make that move, I was stunned for a bit after that. She was really impressive. Kevin is a good friend of mine and I've known him for 20-plus years, and he's a hell of a trainer. Him knowing about Moira ahead of that race is a great example of that.”

Lanni, a Montreal native who moved to Kentucky 25 years ago, will be at Woodbine along with other owners of the bay filly to watch her run in the Mazarine.

“I'm excited about going to Woodbine,” said Lanni. “I'm bringing some of the owners from Kentucky with me. It's going to be a good crowd of people and it's going to be a lot of fun to attend the races at Woodbine this late in the year. Some of these guys have never been to Woodbine, so they're pretty excited about going up there and seeing what it's all about and watching her race.”

Although the 2022 edition of the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser is far down the road, Stein thought of the country's pre-eminent race for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies just after the finish line in the Princess Elizabeth.

Those thoughts haven't changed.

“She was really impressive,” praised Stein. “Kevin thought she belonged in there and I rode her like she belonged in there. She ran better than I expected. It was pretty amazing for a first lifetime start. She looks the part, she behaves like it, and she ran like it. There's a lot of talent there.”

Among the past Princess Elizabeth winners who have gone on to take the Woodbine Oaks are Nipissing (2012), Roan Inish (2009), Ginger Gold (2001) and Dancethruthedawn (2000).

Attard and Lanni will also be represented in the 1 1/16-mile Grey, sending out Be Like Clint and Hicksy.

Bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm and owned by the same connections as Moira, Be Like Clint is 1-1-1 from four starts and will contest his first career stakes race on Saturday.

The son of Point of Entry arrives at the Grey off a second-place finish in a 1/16-mile Tapeta race on November 6.

“I was a little disappointed in his last start,” said Attard. “He lost a little bit of ground around the turn and then regained some momentum and ran on to be second. He's a colt that still seems to be figuring things out, so we're hoping he takes another step in the right direction and shows a little bit more improvement.”

Hicksy, owned by Lanni through the Lanni Bloodstock LLC banner, heads into the Grey on a two-race win streak, including a three-quarter length score in the seven-furlong Display Stakes on October 30.

The son of Hootenanny, bred by Richard Forbush, debuted on Sept. 12 at Woodbine, finishing fourth in a 5 ½-furlong main track race.

“He's a very nice colt,” praised Attard. “He's won his last two races and is a stakes winner now. He's stretching out in distance for the first time. I don't think it's going to be an issue for him. He seems to be rateable. He has some early foot, and he can be positioned anywhere you need him to be. Hopefully, he's just good enough.”

$150,000 MAZARINE STAKES 

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Queen Judith – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
2 – Chocolateaddiction – Luis Contreras – Josie Carroll
3 – Mrs. Barbara – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
4 – Kanta – Kazushi Kimura – Jonathan Thomas
5 – Guileful – Simon Husbands – Nathan Squires
6 – Moira – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
7 – Aubrieta – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
8 – Souper Hoity Toity – Gary Boulanger – Mark Casse
9 – Sake (FR) – Shaun Bridgmohan – Jean-Claude Rouget

$150,000 GREY STAKES 

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Heat Merchant – Gary Boulanger – Ralph Biamonte
2 – Speak Unity – Sahin Civaci – Norman McKnight
3 – Ironstone – Ademar Santos – Willie Armata
4 – Stowaway – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
5 – Shamateur – Steven Bahen – Michael Doyle
6 – Be Like Clint – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
7 – On Thin Ice – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse
8 – Churchtown – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield
9 – International – Shaun Bridgmohan – Jean-Claude Rouget
10 – God of Love – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
11 – Hicksy – Antonio Gallardo – Kevin Attard
12 – The Minkster – David Moran – Daniel Vella

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Bred and owned by Al and Bill Ulwelling, Haddassah, a bay son of Air Force Blue, didn't fly under the radar in his curtain-raising effort on Nov. 1.

Trained by Kevin Attard, the Ontario-bred went off as the 9-5 choice in the mile and 70-yard main track maiden special weight event, a race that was originally scheduled for the turf.

Under Justin Stein, Haddassah improved from seventh at the quarter-mile mark to second at the stretch call, going on to record a half-length score in a time of 1:42.50.

The gelding will now look to build off that smart score when he takes to the Woodbine Tapeta again on Sunday.

“The farm in Kentucky liked him as a baby, then as he got to Kevin, from day one, he has liked him,” said Al Ulwelling. “He had more leg than his brother and sister … just a taller, better-balanced horse. What stood out to us most was if he was fit enough [for his debut], and he was.”

Stein, who has 125 wins (as of Nov. 18) on the season and currently sits atop the Toronto oval jockey standings, was impressed by Haddassah's debut.

“He really showed a determination to beat his company in his first lifetime race,” praised Stein. “He ran like a true professional.”

The Ulwellings would like to see a carbon copy of that effort in Haddassah's second start.

“We are really excited to watch him Sunday,” said Al Ulwelling. “We feel he will run better with a race under his belt and just knowing he has been through the process.”

“Haddassah had trained really well heading into his first start,” noted Attard. “It was nice to see him transfer that into his debut. He was very professional and looked impressive graduating. He has come back to work well in the interim and we're hoping to see him take another step forward Sunday.”

The same connections will also send out Stephen, a 2-year-old son of Constitution.

Bred by Trackwest Racing Inc., the Ontario-bred colt broke his maiden in his most recent start, the $250,000 Coronation Futurity, on Nov. 1 at Woodbine.

After an eighth to launch his career on Aug. 30, Stephen finished second in his next start, a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on Oct. 4.

“Stephen has really taken a step forward since his career debut,” said Attard. “Going into his second start, we thought he'd run a big race and he did. He had some traffic trouble but closed really well to run second. In the Coronation, he ran a similar race, but was able to get by and win. He's a colt that has a great mental attitude and is very easy to ride. We're excited to have two nice Canadian-breds.”

Mark Casse will present the one-two punch of Helium and Easy Time in the Grey Stakes.

Owned by D J Stable LLC, Helium deflated his competition in both of his starts, including a 4 ¼-length romp in the Display Stakes on Oct. 18 at Woodbine.

Under Emma-Jayne Wilson, the son of Ironicus watched his lead balloon from one length at the stretch call to an open-length victory in a time of 1:22.62 for seven furlongs on the Woodbine main track.

Helium won his debut, also at seven furlongs on the Tapeta, by 3 ¼ lengths on Sept. 27, paying $16.10 for the win.

“Where these races [Grey and Mazarine] are situated in the calendar – especially the Grey – is going to make to this one a really good race,” said Casse. “In the past, we would run the Grey [earlier]. I don't know who else is going to go in there, but we're going to run two really good horses.”

A victory by Helium would certainly stamp him as a legitimate contender – along with Grade 1 winner and fellow Casse pupil Gretzky the Great – for Sovereign Award 2-year-old male honors.

“Helium is quite talented,” said Casse. “He's raced extremely well in both of his races.”

Casse's other trainee, Easy Time, a dark bay son of Not This Time, was exceptional in taking his debut on Oct. 25 at Woodbine.

Sent off as the slight 7-5 choice, the colt, bred by Breeze Easy LLC, converted a mid-stretch bid into a 2 ¾-length win. Easy Time covered the seven-furlong Toronto oval Tapeta test in 1:23.92.

“He was extremely impressive in his first start. He's by one of the best young freshman sires in North America. And now, we're going to run him two turns for the first time. I think Easy Time will give Helium a run for his money.”

Owner J.K.L Ross won five straight editions of the race, from 1921-25. Wando, Canada's most recent Triple Crown champion (in 2003), won the Grey in 2002. Mine That Bird, the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, took the race in 2008.

***

Casse, who has seven Mazarine titles, has two opportunities to add to that impressive total  on Sunday.

The 1 1/16-mile Mazarine, which offers Grade 3 status and a purse of $125,000, has attracted a field of seven 2-year-old fillies, including Casse charges Souper Sensational and Sleek Lynx.

Owned by Live Oak Plantation, Souper Sensational has lived up to her name over two starts, including a fantastic four-length display in the Glorious Song Stakes on Oct. 17 at Woodbine.

Sent on her way as the 3-5 choice, the chestnut daughter of Curlin widened her advantage down the lane, going on for the easy score in a time of 1:21.84 over seven furlongs on the Woodbine Tapeta.

Three weeks earlier, Souper Sensational broke her maiden at first asking as she registered a 2 ¼-length win, also at seven panels, in a time of 1:23.54, in a $126,800 maiden special weight event.

“We decided not to go to the Breeders' Cup with her,” offered Casse. “She's been very impressive so far in her couple of races. We feel like her pedigree says she should be able to stretch out. She's coming out into it well. She had a nice breeze [four furlongs in :48.80 over the Woodbine main track on November 14], but it wasn't so much what she did during the breeze, but what she did after it. She galloped out really strong. Every indication says she should get two turns. But until you try it, you don't know.”

Sleek Lynx, owned by Gary Barber, will contest her fourth lifetime race, and second stakes outing.

The dark bay daughter of War Front, who finished fifth in the Natalma (G1T) on Sept. 20, broke her maiden last time out, a 1 ¼-length victory over one mile over “good” going on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

Bred in Britain by Haras Don Alberto, Sleek Lynx finished second in her debut on July 23 at Gulfstream Park, finishing a half-length behind Director's Cut in a one-mile grass race.

“She's probably a better turf horse, but we're getting near the end of the year. She has a huge pedigree and it would be nice to pick up some black type with her.”

Casse won three straight Mazarines from 2012-14. His most recent triumph came three years ago with 2018 Queen's Plate champ and Canada's 2018 Horse of the Year, Wonder Gadot. He was also victorious in 2004 and 2007 with Higher World and Officer Cherrie, respectively, as well as in 2016 with Gale Force.

The Grey Stakes is race 10 and the Mazarine is slated as race 11 on Sunday's 13-race card. First post time is 1:25 p.m. Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com.

$125,000 GREY STAKES
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Haddassah – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
2 – British Royalty – Patrick Husbands – Barbara Minshall
3 – Stephen – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
4 – Lucky Score – Daisuke Fukumoto – Ralph Biamonte
5 – Barrister Tom* – Kazushi Kimura – Michael Ewing
6 – Lomaki's Gem – Jerome Lermyte – Stuart Simon
7 – Helium – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Mark Casse
8 – Easy Time – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
9 – Gospel Way – Emile Ramsammy – Nathan Squires

* denotes supplemented 

$125,000 MAZARINE STAKES
1 – Il Malocchio – Sahin Civaci – Martin Drexler
2 – Sleek Lynx – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse
3 – Do You Love Me – David Moran – Michael Trombetta
4 – Batyah – Justin Stein – Graham Motion
5 – Army Wife* – Kazushi Kimura – Michael Maker
6 – Designer Ready – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Barbara Minshall
7 – Souper Sensational – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

* denotes supplemented   

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