Number of Graded Stakes in Canada to Increase to 42 in 2023

The Jockey Club of Canada's Graded Stakes Committee held its annual review of the graded and listed stakes races in Canada. The number of graded stakes in Canada will increase to 42. The increase is due to the return of the GI Canadian International and the upgrade of one listed race to Grade III status. No graded stakes races were downgraded.

The Committee reviewed the North American Race Committee (NARC) figures and the Race Quality Scores (RQS) for all graded, listed, and potentially listed races in Canada. Last year was the first year since 2019 that restricted movement of horses and humans did not hamper field size and, ultimately, race quality.

After reviewing the NARC figures and the RQS numbers for all listed and black-type races in Canada, the Committee determined that the GIII Seagram Cup S. will be upgraded to Grade II status and the Listed Belle Mahone S. will be upgraded to Grade III status. Additionally, the Ontario Damsel S. and the Algonquin S. (previously run as the Ontario Racing S.) will be upgraded to listed status.

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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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Merveilleux Enters Sovereign Award Discussion After Ontario Damsel Victory

Following up her three-length Wonder Where win, Merveilleux turned in another dazzling performance in the $150,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes for Ontario-bred 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.

With Rafael Hernandez aboard, the Kevin Attard trainee stalked the dueling front-runners before launching her winning bid three-wide in the final turn of the 1 1/16-mile main track stakes event.

Avie's Samurai left sharply and darted to the lead with Justleaveitalone joining her on top to trade blows through fractions of :24.91, :48.68 and 1:26.61. Reigning divisional champion and Woodbine Oaks winner Curlin's Voyage attempted to circle the pacemakers approaching three-quarters, but the even-money favorite posed no threat down the lane.

At the top of the stretch, Merveilleux exploded with late pace and drew off by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:44.37, with Avie's Samurai staying for second over the late-rallying Afleet Katherine, also trained by Attard. Ann of Cleves, Curlin's Voyage and Justleaveitalone completed the order of finish.

“I just wanted to make sure to get the right move, at the right time,” said Hernandez. “I didn't want to get it too early and then flatten out in the lane, but everything worked good in the whole race. We sat behind the speed horse, relaxed good and everything worked perfect today.”

Bred by Mike Carroll, the daughter of Paynter out of Breech Inlet now boasts three wins and third (in the Woodbine Oaks) from five sophomore starts for owners Al and Bill Ulwelling. The consistent filly has hit the board in eight of her 11 races lifetime.

“She was kind of misfortunate earlier in the year to have some rough trips and some bad racing luck, but she's really put it together lately and I'm just happy to see it for the owners,” said Attard, via a video call after watching the race from home.

Merveilleux's late-season stakes success puts her in the conversation for divisional Sovereign Award honors.

“The championship is not based on one or two months of the year, it's over the season, and she's obviously gotten better as the season's gone on and she's at the top of the division right now,” noted Attard. “We're just happy that she's progressed like we wanted her to and hopefully she turns out to be a nice 4-year-old.”

Merveilleux paid $6.10 to win as the 2-1 second choice. 

Live Thoroughbred racing continues at Woodbine Racetrack on Sunday, Nov. 22, featuring the $125,000 Grey and matching Mazarine, a pair of Grade 3 stakes for two-year-olds.

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