Seven fillies and mares aged three and up will line up at Woodbine on Saturday for the Dance Smartly Stakes, a $200,000 Grade 2 contest over 1 1/16 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf course. Power of Destiny (GB) will headline the seven-runner field as she will return to turf for another major test in her North American campaign, with the winner also set to earn an automatic entry into the 2027 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by James Begg, Power of Destiny will enter the race with one win, one second and one third from five starts since beginning her North American career in May. Ryan Munger will take the ride from post two as the five-year-old will look to add another strong performance to her record at Woodbine.
Power of Destiny will have finished second in her Canadian debut over 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Woodbine on May 3 before an off-the-board finish in the Belle Mahone Stakes (G3) on May 30. She will then have shown a better response when returning to turf, winning a 1 1/16-mile inner turf allowance optional claimer by a neck in her North American turf debut.
The daughter of Sea The Stars (IRE), out of the unraced Kingman (GB) mare Rux Power (GB), will subsequently have travelled to Saratoga, where she will have finished third in a 1 1/8-mile inner turf race on August 5. Ten days later, she will have stepped up to Grade 2 company in the Canadian Stakes at Woodbine and finished fourth over 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf.
Begg will have given Power of Destiny additional time between races after the quick turnaround before the Canadian Stakes. The trainer will expect the longer gap to help the mare arrive in stronger condition for Saturday’s assignment and will point to her ability to settle behind the early speed as an important part of her racing style.
Power of Destiny will also have shown determination during her previous appearances at Woodbine. Begg will have noted that she continued fighting when challenged in her first race at the track, eventually holding second place after another runner moved alongside her late in the contest. The trainer will now look for that same determination when she tackles the E.P. Taylor turf for the first time.
Her preparation will include a three-furlong turf work in :35.20 on September 27, one week after a four-furlong move in :49.80 over the same surface. Begg will have been pleased with the latest exercise and will expect the mare to carry that preparation into the Grade 2 feature.
Power of Destiny will have been purchased for 40,000 guineas at the 2025 Tattersalls December Mares Sale by Begg and Joe Miller for Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, Upland Flats Racing, Jonathan Wilmot and Nick Bauer. She will enter the race with three wins, three seconds and four thirds from 21 starts, along with $134,119 in purse earnings. Alfredo Ramos will be listed as her groom.
The six rivals will provide Power of Destiny with a competitive field. Proctor Street will start from post one with Pietro Moran aboard for trainer Brendan Walsh, while Pin Up Betty will leave from post three with Rajiv Maragh for Michael Maker. Warming will occupy post four with Fraser Aebly for Graham Motion.
Eponine (IRE) will start from post five with Rafael Hernandez for Kevin Attard, while Elysian Field will leave from post six with Romero Ramsay Maragh for Mark Casse. Ozara (IRE) will complete the field from post seven with Sahin Civaci aboard for trainer Miguel Clement.
The Dance Smartly Stakes will carry added significance through its automatic entry opportunity for the 2027 Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T), which will be scheduled for January at Gulfstream Park. The race itself will also continue a long-standing Woodbine tradition, having been named after Sam-Son Farm star Dance Smartly.
Dance Smartly will have gone undefeated in 1991 while completing the Canadian Triple Crown and will have become the first Canadian-bred horse to win a Breeders’ Cup race when capturing the 1991 Distaff. She will also have been inducted into both the Canadian and American Racing Halls of Fame. Bessarabian will have won the first edition of the race in 1986.
The Dance Smartly Stakes will bring seven fillies and mares together for a $200,000 Grade 2 test on the E.P. Taylor turf, with Power of Destiny set to headline the field in Saturday’s Woodbine feature.
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