Munnyfor Ro Best In Ontario Damsel At Woodbine

In Sunday stakes action at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Munnyfor Ro, ridden by Justin Stein, took the $142,500 Ontario Damsel for three-year-old fillies, contested at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta.

After slow opening splits of :25.59 and :50.85, the tempo began to pick up down the lane, as 8-5 choice Munnyfor Ro, fourth and gaining steadily at the stretch call, rallied impressively to win by a length in a time of 1:45.36. Oyster Box was second and Gold for Kitten was third.

“I expected a little more pace, but I was in a good spot,” said Stein, who now has 12 stakes scores on the campaign. “She was sitting comfortably in behind the slower pace and we were in the right spot for those fractions. When I called on her, she was there.  She gave me everything.”

Owned by Raroma Stable and trained by Kevin Attard, the daughter of Munnings launched her career last October at Woodbine, finishing eighth in her debut. She broke her maiden in her fifth race, this April at Keeneland.

Now 4-2-2 from 11 starts, the chestnut, bred by Daybar, LTD., has had a banner 2021 season, highlighted by three stakes scores, including the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser and the Wonder Where. She was fourth to Safe Conduct in the Queen's Plate.

“She's done everything we've asked and now she's going to get a deserved break and some sunshine on her back and have a chance to kind of drop her head and eat some grass in the south,” said Attard, who has eight stakes victories in 2021.

Munnyfor Ro paid $5.30 for the Ontario Damsel win.

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Ontario Derby, Ontario Damsel Highlight Sophomores On Sunday’s Card At Woodbine

The Grade 3 $150,000 Ontario Derby, for 3-year-olds, and the $125,000 Ontario Damsel, for 3-year-old fillies, co-headline Sunday's 10-race card at Woodbine.

Riptide Rock, a son of Point of Entry, heads into the 1 1/8-mile main track Ontario Derby off a runner-up effort to British Royalty (who'll also run) in the Breeders' Stakes, final jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown series, on Oct. 3.

The Stronach Stables' homebred, trained by Canadian Hall of Fame inductee Sid Attard, has assembled a record of 2-3-1 from nine starts.

His most recent win came in a six-furlong Tapeta race on July 16 at the Toronto oval. After a narrow miss in the Queen's Plate – Riptide Rock was second, a head back of Safe Conduct – the gelding was third in the turf Toronto Cup, before earning silver in the Breeders' Stakes.

“He's doing very, very good,” said Attard. “He's coming into the race in good order. I'm very happy with him.”

Riptide Rock launched his career on Oct. 17, 2020, sweeping to the front in mid-stretch to take the six-furlong turf dash by 1 ½-lengths as the 2-1 choice, in what was his lone 2-year-old appearance.

The chestnut then headed south for his next four starts, three at Oaklawn, one at Monmouth, before arriving back at Woodbine ahead of his July victory over the E.P. Taylor Turf Course.

“I like everything [about the horse],” said Attard. “He's a very easy horse to train, always does what you ask of him, and always tries every time. It's a nice horse to be around. He's always there whenever he races. You know he will always try, and he will always give his best.”

It's exactly what Attard is expecting from Riptide Rock on Sunday.

“I think this distance will be perfect for him.”

Field Pass, owned by Three Diamonds Farm, and trained by Michael Maker, took the 2020 Ontario Derby in a time of 1:48.35.

Seven sophomore fillies, including Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser champ Munnyfor Ro, are set to contest the Ontario Damsel, a 1 1/16-mile main track event.

Owned by Raroma Stable, the daughter of Munnings is 3-2-2 from 11 starts.

The chestnut, to be ridden by Justin Stein, heads into the Ontario Damsel off a victory in the Wonder Where Stakes, third leg of the Canadian Triple Tiara, on Oct. 2.

Other hopefuls include Gold for Kitten (4-0-1, from 5 starts), Alywow Stakes winner Lady War Machine, and multiple graded stakes placed Oyster Box.

First post time is 12:55 p.m. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com or the Dark Horse Bets app.

$150,000 ONTARIO DERBY

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Artie's Storm – David Moran – Paul Buttigieg

2 – Dolder Grand – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

3 – British Royalty – Luis Contreras – Barbara Minshall

4 – Frosted Over – Kazushi Kimura – Mark Casse

5 – Riptide Rock – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Sid Attard

6 – Master of the Ring (S) – Justin Stein – Michael Stidham

7 – Swot Analysis (S) – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

8 – Hit the Point – Shaun Bridgmohan – Vito Armata

$125,000 ONTARIO DAMSEL

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Munnyfor Ro – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

2 – Salty as Can Be – Rafael Hernandez – Mark Casse

3 – Gold for Kitten – Kazushi Kimura – Brendan Walsh

4 – Lady War Machine – Patrick Husbands – Josie Carroll

5 – Seasons – Shaun Bridgmohan – James Toner

6 – Oyster Box – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Graham Motion

7 – Sweet Souper Sweet – Eswan Flores – Michael Trombetta

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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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Canadian Triple Tiara Concludes With Saturday’s Wonder Where Stakes

This year's edition of the Canadian Triple Tiara concludes when a field of nine talented 3-year-old Canadian-bred fillies chase top prize in Saturday's $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes, at Woodbine in Toronto, Ontario.

Set at the distance of 1 ¼-miles on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, the Wonder Where drew sophomore stars Munnyfor Ro, winner of the Woodbine Oaks presented by Budweiser (first jewel in the series), and Il Malocchio, third in the Oaks and winner of the second jewel, the Bison City Stakes, on August 28.

The race has also attracted the ultra-consistent Emmeline, a dark bay daughter of Violence.

Trained by John Mattine for RCC Racing Stable Limited and Realm Racing Stables, the filly, bred in Ontario by the late Bill Graham, has four seconds and one third from seven career starts.

After back-to-back fourth-place results in her first two starts last August, Emmeline was third, at 57-1 in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, to close out her rookie campaign.

Emmeline launched her sophomore season with the first of four straight seconds in a seven-furlong Tapeta race at Woodbine this June. Her runner-up finishes include the Woodbine Oaks and Bison City.

Mattine is hoping his hard-trying horse can break her maiden in style on Saturday.

“She's in good order,” said the stakes winning conditioner. “I think she raced well in all four of those races. I'm not disappointed in any of them. I thought her second race this year (July 10) where she just got nailed at the wire… it could have gone the other way, but you have to give credit to the other horse (Miss Marie, also entered in the Wonder Where) who won that day.”

He's expecting another strong showing this weekend.

“She's a game filly, she really is. It's lovely to have her. I've walked the (E.P. Taylor) surface and I know it's a little different than it is in the summertime. My opinion is that whoever wants the distance and that type of surface will win it. I think it will be a tight race. I don't foresee it as one horse blowing the others out. I'm looking forward to a good race.”

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A chestnut daughter of Munnings, Munnyfor Ro, trained by Kevin Attard, heads into the Wonder Where off a fourth-place finish in the Queen's Plate on August 22.

Owned by Raroma Stable, Munnyfor Ro has compiled a record of 2-2-2 from 10 starts, which includes a runner-up outing in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes in July.

The filly is no stranger to turf, with six grass races under her saddle, highlighted by a maiden-breaking nose score over 1 1/8-miles on good ground at Keeneland this April.

Munnyfor Ro launched her career last October at Woodbine, finishing eighth in a six-furlong sprint over the E.P. Taylor.

“We're obviously excited to see her back on turf, she had run so well over that footing during the winter and prior to coming back to Woodbine,” said Attard. “She seems like she's matured from a physical standpoint since the Queens Plate. I've been satisfied with the way she's trained heading into the Wonder Where and I'm expecting her to run very well.”

Il Malocchio is another consistent contender, sporting a record of 2-3-2 from 10 starts for trainer Martin Drexler and owner Franco Meli.

The daughter of Souper Speedy arrives at the Wonder Where in top form, punctuated by her impressive victory in the Bison City.

This will be the seventh overall stakes appearance and fourth straight added-money engagement for Il Malocchio, who broke her maiden on the Toronto oval's Inner Turf last September, courtesy of a 2 ¾-length triumph in the Victorian Queen Stakes.

One race prior, she finished second in a seven-furlong race over the E.P. Taylor.

Other familiar faces from the first two jewels of the Triple Tiara include Cielo d'Oro, third in the Bison City, Miss Marie, sixth and fifth respectively in the Oaks and Bison City, and Youens, fourth in the Oaks and sixth in the Bison City.

Bequia, also trained by Attard, Pemberley, and Tranquil Sky are newcomers to the series.

The race is named in honour of the champion filly Wonder Where, Canada's 1959 Horse of the Year and Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee.

Sealy Hill, Canada's Horse of the Year in 2007, took all three Triple Tiara races in that same year.

First post on the 11-race card is 1:10 p.m. The Wonder Where goes as the ninth race. On Sunday, Queen's Plate champ Safe Conduct returns to Woodbine to contest the $400,000 Breeders' Stakes, final jewel in the OLG Canadian Triple Crown.

Fans can watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and the Dark Horse Bets app.

FIELD FOR THE $250,000 WONDER WHERE STAKES

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer 
1 – Tranquil Sky – Tony Maragh – Steve Owens
2 – Miss Marie – Shaun Bridgmohan – Breeda Hayes
3 – Munnyfor Ro – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard
4 – Il Malocchio – Patrick Husbands – Martin Drexler
5 – Bequia – Kazushi Kimura – Kevin Attard
6 – Youens – Jeffrey Alderson – Angus Buntain
7 – Cielo d'Oro – Antonio Gallardo – Catherine Day Phillips
8 – Pemberley – Daisuke Fukumoto – Mike Mattine
9 – Emmeline – Emma-Jayne Wilson – John Mattine

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