Trainer Kevin Attard leaned against the rail with a grin of relief as Caitlinhergrtness powered clear at Woodbine. The chestnut filly, who has been a source of both pride and frustration in recent months, finally reminded everyone of her true ability with a commanding victory in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron on Saturday.
The four-year-old, aptly named after basketball phenomenon Caitlin Clark, came into the race off a disappointing fifth-place finish in last month’s E.P. Taylor Stakes (G1T). But under a cool ride from Flavien Prat, she rebounded in style, stamping her authority on the $150,000 contest for fillies and mares.
A Confident Tracking Trip
Hurricane Clair was first to show in the 1 1/16-mile test, chased by Fashionably Fab through steady fractions of :24.68 and :49.62. Prat, unhurried on Caitlinhergrtness, let her find her rhythm in third while keeping the leaders well within sight.
Swinging three-wide around the far turn, the King’s Plate heroine launched her move, striking the front at the top of the stretch. Once there, the daughter of Omaha Beach was in a class of her own, lengthening away to win by 3 ¼ lengths in 1:42.92. Hurricane Clair dug in gamely for second, holding off For Flying (BRZ) by half a length, while Five Towns (GB) completed the superfecta. Blitz was a late scratch.
Trainer’s Relief
Attard, never shy in his praise, admitted the E.P. Taylor had been a misstep.
“I just personally think she needs two turns,” he said. “The E.P. Taylor turf course doesn’t play to her strengths. She did win on the inner turf, so you have to take a chance, but this is what she’s about. Today she showed her true colours.”
It was the fifth career win from 14 starts for Caitlinhergrtness, who also counts two seconds and two thirds on her résumé. Crowned Canada’s champion three-year-old filly last year, she is bred in Ontario by Jesse Korona and races for WinStar Farm LLC, who secured her for $375,000 at the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.
Prat, who barely had to lift his whip, allowed himself a small smile as he walked her back to the winner’s enclosure, the crowd offering a warm round of applause. Caitlinhergrtness paid $3.70 to win.
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