Toronto’s crisp November morning sets the stage for an electric weekend at Woodbine, where the sport’s finest fillies and mares will test their mettle in two Grade 3 stakes races. For Mark Casse, the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3) offers another shot at glory with Blitz and Dancing N Dixie, while the Bessarabian (G3) draws an intriguing duel between Shotgun Wedding and Girl of My Dreams.
Maple Leaf Stakes: Casse Looks to Extend His Record
The $150,000 Maple Leaf Stakes, contested over 1 ¼ miles on the main track, promises a gripping showdown among seven talented runners. Among them, Casse’s duo, Blitz and Dancing N Dixie, stand out as both seasoned and formidable.
Blitz, a dark bay daughter of Uncle Mo out of Customer Base, arrives off a runner-up effort in the H.B.P.A Stakes at Presque Isle Downs. “She ran such a great race at Presque Isle,” said assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan. “She showed a lot of heart. She is lightly raced for a 4-year-old but has really come into her own.”
Owned by Gary Barber, Blitz has five previous Woodbine appearances, including a five-length romp over 1 1/16 miles in July. Bred in Kentucky by Glen Hill Farm, she was a $675,000 purchase at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale. Sullivan adds, “She’s a real head-turner, and her training has been excellent leading into this race.”
Dancing N Dixie, also trained by Casse, makes her 19th start in the Maple Leaf. The 4-year-old roan, daughter of Neolithic out of Foolhearted Woman, boasts a 3-1-4 record and $407,083 in earnings. A graded stakes performer with wins including the Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs, Dancing N Dixie “is very tenacious and comes with a big kick at the end,” Sullivan remarked. Both fillies are primed for Saturday’s feature.
Field for the Grade 3 Maple Leaf – Race 7
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hurricane Clair | Eswan Flores | Marty Drexler |
| 2 | For Flying (BRZ) | Sahin Civaci | Graham Motion |
| 3 | Dancing N Dixie | Patrick Husbands | Mark Casse |
| 4 | Long Ago (GB) | Emma-Jayne Wilson | William Morey |
| 5 | Blitz | Ryan Munger | Mark Casse |
| 6 | Queens Command (IRE) | Fraser Aebly | Marty Drexler |
| 7 | Sultana | Rafael Hernandez | Kevin Attard |
Casse has already claimed five Maple Leaf victories, including last year’s triumph with Elysian Field. With his pair of challengers this year, the trainer aims to extend that remarkable streak.
Bessarabian Stakes: Shotgun Wedding Chases First Graded Win
Fourteen fillies and mares, including two also-eligibles, line up for the $150,000 Bessarabian Stakes over seven furlongs. Among the contenders, Shotgun Wedding seeks her first graded stakes victory after a breakthrough Ontario Damsel win on October 11.
Trainer Jamie Begg praised his chestnut’s consistency and fighting spirit. “She’s a gamer, always focused and sound. Every day, she thinks it’s game day,” he said. Shotgun Wedding has proven adaptable, posting multiple podium finishes this season across Woodbine’s main track and inner turf.
Challenging her will be Girl of My Dreams, a 4-year-old by Kantharos out of Naples Dream, trained by Anna Meah. Coming off a third-place finish in the Ontario Fashion Stakes (G3), she has shown adaptability and poise across North American tracks, including Del Mar, Churchill Downs, and Presque Isle Downs. “She truly loves her job and enjoys going to the races,” Meah said.
Field for the Grade 3 Bessarabian – Race 9
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Love Cervere | Sahin Civaci | Miguel Clement |
| 2 | Les Reys (FR) | Rafael Hernandez | Miguel Clement |
| 3 | Serene Seraph (IRE) | Xarel Forde | Bill Mott |
| 4 | Tricky Temper | Eswan Flores | Jeremiah Englehart |
| 5 | Uphill Dance | Jose Campos | Rachel Halden |
| 6 | Mo Fox Givin | Pietro Moran | Mark Casse |
| 7 | Bolt Enoree | Da-Sean Gaskin | Steven Chircop |
| 8 | Pondering | Declan Cannon | Brendan Walsh |
| 9 | A Little Frisky | Fraser Aebly | Josie Carroll |
| 10 | Shotgun Wedding | Keveh Nicholls | Jamie Begg |
| 11 | Golden Canary | Ryan Munger | Mark Casse |
| 12 | Caitlinhergrtness | Emma-Jayne Wilson | Kevin Attard |
| 13 | Stormcast (S) | Patrick Husbands | Mark Casse |
| 14 | Girl of My Dreams | Joseph Bealmear | Anna Meah |
| AE | Dolce Sopresa | Daisuke Fukumoto | Josie Carroll |
| AE | Ellen Jay | Aurelien Lemaitre | Brad Cox |
With top-class fillies and mares on display, Saturday’s Maple Leaf and Bessarabian Stakes promise a thrilling spectacle of speed, stamina, and strategy at Woodbine.
Read the full Woodbine stakes preview and racing insights on RaceBuzz here.
