Hicksy, Aubrieta Win Juvenile Stakes At Woodbine Saturday

In stakes action at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, on Saturday, Hicksy took the $130,000 Display Stakes, while Aubrieta won the $140,250 Glorious Song Stakes.

A bay son of Hootenanny, Hicksy, under Antonio Gallardo, tracked 6-5 choice Ironstone through a quarter in :23.08 and a half in :46.10, before turning up the pressure around the turn for home in the seven-furlong main track race for two-year-old colts and geldings.

The duo slugged it out down the stretch with Hicksy taking over late, going on to notch a three-quarter length win in a time of 1:23.38. Ironstone was second and Optigogo was third.

Trained by Kevin Attard for Lani Bloodstock LLC, the Kentucky-bred colt won his second straight race and notched his first stakes crown in what was his first added-money appearance.

“He was just kind of an unassuming little horse, just kind of a straightforward horse,” recalled owner Donato Lanni. “He just looked real kind and classy. I've been active in Kentucky, but I'm from Canada, from Montreal, and I always wanted to come back here and have some horses to run. I have a lot of friends and family in Toronto and it's just great to come back and hang out with my people.”

After a troubled fourth in his career bow on September 12 at Woodbine, Hicksy broke his maiden on October 3, in a race also contested at the Toronto oval.

“He's come a long way,” praised Attard. “We always thought highly of him. When he came to me from Kentucky, Donato said, 'This horse is really eager, he's been showing promise.' When he got here, he had a few little hiccups, just kind of baby stuff. His first race, we were expecting a little more out of him, but he kind of pulled a shoe off and I think that was a good enough excuse. Obviously, his last start, he put it together with an impressive win.”

Hicksy, bred by Richard Forbush, paid $6.60 for the Display victory.

Aubrieta, bred and owned by Conrad Farms, was back in the winner's circle, this time in the Glorious Song Stakes.

Sent on her way at 6-1 in the seven-furlong main track race for two-year-old fillies, the Mark Casse trainee was content to watch the early leaders duke it out before delivering her knockout punch.

Fulminate and Marie MacKay battled out on the front end, leading the field through opening splits of :22.83 and :45.55. Aubrieta, under patient handling from Patrick Husbands, was positioned fourth, well within striking distance of the top two.

When Husbands gave the Ontario-bred daughter of Speightster her cue, the bay responded willingly and sprinted away from her foes down the stretch, crossing the wire a two-length winner. Howdyoumakeurmoney rallied to secure second, a neck in front of Chocolate Addiction.

The final time was 1:22.85.

Aubrieta, who won her debut on September 11, was second in the Shady Well Stakes on October 8.

“You miss the break and Justin (jockey Stein, aboard Marie MacKay) got everything his way,” said Husbands, of the Shady Well. “But she showed me after the race that she was the best horse in the race. She galloped out like the winner. I called Mark after the race and said, 'Boss, she wanted to win so bad. She still thinks she won.'”

Husbands is confident Aubrieta can stretch out with ease.

“That (two turns) is what she wants to go.”

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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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