The Santino Di Paola barn erupted in joy as Little Teddy charged home to capture Sunday’s Zadracarta Stakes at Woodbine, giving both jockey Austin Adams and her connections a moment to treasure.
Adams, visibly emotional as he crossed the line, punched the air in triumph — his first career stakes win — before embracing the Di Paola family in the winner’s circle. Trainer Santino Di Paola’s father, who had long dreamt of sharing such a victory, was also on hand, adding to the poignancy of the occasion.
“This one is so special,” said Adams. “I know this filly so well, and for my first stakes win to come with the Santino barn and the family, it means everything. She exploded when the rail opened — I didn’t even have to look back.”
Race Recap
The $100,000 Zadracarta Stakes, a five-furlong inner turf dash for Ontario-bred fillies and mares, attracted seven runners, with Pop Idol sent off as the 8-5 favourite. She and Thermal blazed early fractions of :21.68, duelling head-to-head while Adams bided his time aboard Little Teddy in fourth.
When the field straightened for home, the 4-year-old daughter of Frac Daddy threaded through on the inside and powered away with a devastating turn of foot. She won by 5½ lengths in :55.63, just shy of the track record. Olivia Rose stayed on for second, Thermal held third, and Pop Idol faded to fourth.
Adams’ First Stakes Crown
For Adams, this was more than a professional milestone. “It’s my first time riding her on the turf, and she just gave me everything,” he reflected. “She’s got that big kick Santino always talked about.”
Di Paola, training the filly for his parents’ York Tech Stable, was equally overcome: “My parents have invested so much into this. To see my dad in the stakes winner’s circle — it means everything. We finally saw the real Little Teddy today.”
Form and Pedigree
Little Teddy has long hinted at this kind of ability. Bred in Ontario by Susan Rasmussen and H. Lothian, she was a $15,000 purchase at the 2022 CTHS Canadian Premier Yearling Sale. From 14 starts, she now boasts a record of 6 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds, including a Georgian Bay Stakes triumph last season.
The victory also continues a family story: Di Paola’s stable earned its very first Woodbine stakes crown last year with the same filly, and she’s now cemented her place as their star performer.
Little Teddy returned $7.60 to win, rewarding backers who kept faith after her near-misses in the Ballade and Algoma Stakes earlier this summer.
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