justin stein | Horse Racing Free Tips

Moira Wins Princess Elizabeth Stakes In First Start At Woodbine

In her first start, Moira got her first win, breaking her maiden in the 1 1/16-mile Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. The daughter of Ghostzapper impressed with her 4 1/2-length victory on debut for trainer Kevin Attard.

In a field of ten, Moira and jockey Justin Stein settled in the back of the pack early, running next-to-last around the first turn and into the backstretch as Mo Touring led the field through fractions of :24.55 for the first quarter and :49.07 for the first half-mile. As the field approached the far turn, Stein moved his filly between horses to find running room entering the stretch.

Still in traffic, Stein took Moira between horses again entering the Woodbine straight, running on the outside of Mo Touring and Souper Flashy and accelerating into the lead. At the wire, the first-time starter had stretched her advantage out to nearly 4 1/2 lengths, winning the Princess Elizabeth Stakes in 1:44.63. Souper Flashy was second and Intro was third.

Find this race's chart here.

Moira paid $10.60, $6.70, and $5.00. Souper Flashy paid $7.90 and $5.80. Intro paid $11.90.

Bred in Ontario by Adena Springs, Moira is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Devine Aida. She is owned by X-Men Racing, Madaket Stables, and SF Racing LLC. Consigned by Hidden Brook, the 2-year-old filly was sold to X-Men Racing for $150,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With her win in the Princess Elizabeth, Moira has career earnings of $121,292.

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Special Forces Surprises In Durham Cup At Woodbine

After losing the 2019 edition of the Grade 3 Durham Cup by a nose, Special Forces made his 2021 try a winning one, taking the 1 1/16-mile stakes by a half-length over 2019 Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

Under jockey Justin Stein, Special Forces ran last of five early, with Tap It to Win taking the lead in the race's opening strides. Stein kept the 6-year-old gelding on the outside of Sir Winston, waiting until the far turn to swing three-wide as Tap It to Win and Halo Again battled for the lead. In the stretch, the two leaders continued to duel, Halo Again taking over as Tap It to Win tired, with Mighty Heart, Sir Winston, and Special Forces bunched up to their outside. Stein sent Special Forces running up on Halo Again's outside in the final furlong, with Sir Winson trying to split them to bid for the lead.

When Halo Again lugged in slightly, bumping Sir Winston, Special Forces was able to pull ahead to hit the wire in front. Halo Again, Mighty Heart, and Tap It to Win rounded out the field. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.36 over the Woodbine all-weather course.

The inquiry sign went up after the contact between Halo Again and Sir Winson. Stewards made no change to the order of finish.

Special Forces paid $15.60, $4.80, and $4.10. Sir Winston paid $3.20 and $3.10. Halo Again paid $5.10.

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Carrie Brogden, and Craig Brogden, Special Forces is by Candy Ride (ARG) out of the Unbridled's Song mare Special Me. He is co-owned by Soli Mehta and trainer Kevin Attard. Special Forces was consigned by Select Sales and sold to Global Thoroughbreds for $220,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The G3 Durham Cup is the gelding's first win of 2021, for a lifetime record of six wins in 20 starts.

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Amalfi Coast Takes Rail Trip To Win Ontario Fashion

Amalfi Coast put in a last-to-first effort with a ground-saving trip prevail in the Grade 3 Ontario Fashion at Woodbine on Oct. 3, skimming the rail with jockey Justin Stein. The Kevin Attard trainee was last at an early call of the six-furlong contest, and was positioned for a closing bid on the turn. Jeannie's Beepbeep, who dueled with Ima Beast on the backstretch, suffered a serious injury on the turn and had to drift to the outside rail as competitors navigated around her. Stein was able to guide Amalfi Coast back towards the rail to avoid trouble and find a hole to sneak by Ima Beast and hold off a late closing effort from Summer Sunday.

Jeannie's Beepbeep was euthanized due to her injuries, according to the Daily Racing Form's Ron Gierkink.

Amalfi Coast was favored at 4-5 and paid $3.70, $3.00, and $2.10.

Attard conditions Amalfi Coast for owner/breeder Terra Racing Stable. The 5-year-old mare has now collected wins in this year's G2 Royal North, as well as previous editions of the Sweet Briar Too Stakes and G2 Bessarabian. Rival Boardroom got the best of her in her last start, the G3 Seaway, but was a scratch from the Ontario Fashion.

The final time for the six furlongs was 1:09.40, with fractional times of :22.95, :46.10, and :57.78.

Summer Sunday was second, followed by Golden Vision.

Amalfi Coast was bred in Ontario and is the daughter of Tapizar and Include mare Include Katherine. See the full chart here.

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Munnyfor Ro Powerful In Stretch To Win Wonder Where Stakes

Munnyfor Ro rallied stoutly down the long E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch to take the $250,400 Wonder Where Stakes, third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack.

It took a little bit of time for Munnyfor Ro to hit her best stride, but when she did, the daughter of Munnings dashed away from her rivals for a convincing score in the in the 1 1/4-mile turf test for 3-year-old fillies foaled in Canada.

After an early scramble for the lead, 66-1 Youens struck front as 4-1 Emmeline settled just to her outside in second spot. Justin Stein, aboard Munnyfor Ro, kept the 6-5 choice in striking distance, sitting sixth after an opening quarter timed in :26.44.

Youens continued to lead the way with Emmeline keeping close tabs to the pacesetter, as Munnyfor Ro, winner of the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser, first leg of the Triple Tiara, was still running along comfortably in sixth after a half in :52.44.

As the field rounded the turn for home, Youens and Emmeline were quickly challenged by several rivals, including Miss Marie and Cielo d'Oro, as Stein called upon MunnyforRo for her best run.

Midway down the lane, the favorite seized control and proceeded to sprint away from her rivals, notching a 1 1/2-length triumph in a time of 2:05.36 over good ground, and returning $4.60 for the win.

Miss Marie battled on gamely to secure second place, Cielo d'Oro was third and Bequia, also a Kevin Attard trainee, took fourth. Il Malocchio, winner of the Bison City Stakes, second jewel in the Triple Tiara, was sixth.

“She's all racehorse,” praised Stein. “She felt the same (on turf), just that nice, efficient stride, and that strong kick down the stretch. Just reading the form, you could see there was no real speed, and we were forwardly placed. She was on the bridle and just had to settle her into stride and wait to turn her loose.”

With the victory, Munnyfor Ro stamped herself as a legitimate Sovereign Award contender in both the champion 3-year-old filly and Horse of the Year categories.

Attard was equally thrilled with the effort from the chestnut filly, bred in Ontario by Daybar, Ltd., who finished fourth to Safe Conduct in this year's running of the Queen's Plate.

“I thought she's blossomed a lot since her race in the Queen's Plate,” said Attard, who won last year's Wonder Where with Merveilleux. “She kept good weight, possibly put on some weight. She's matured from a physical standpoint, and she trained really well heading into this race. This was a race that Raj [owner Rajendra Maharajh] wanted to target from the get-go. It was just nice to see it all come together today and get the job done.”

Munnyfor Ro, now 3-2-2 from 11 career starts, broke her maiden at Keeneland this April.

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