Dixie Law will return to stakes company on Saturday as the standout name in the $125,000 Ontario Damsel at Woodbine, with six 3-year-old fillies set to contest 1 1/16 miles on the main track.
The Dale Desruisseaux-trained filly arrives in search of another stakes success after a determined neck victory in the Wonder Where Stakes on September 6. That race, the third jewel of the Canadian Triple Tiara, was contested over 1 1/4 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf, where Dixie Law held on in 2:04.01 over a good course.
Dixie Law Brings Proven Stakes Form
Dixie Law has built a consistent record through a demanding series of races this season. Desruisseaux believes the Wonder Where Stakes was particularly significant, even if the narrow margin did not fully reflect the performance.
The filly had been a half-length in front at the stretch call and was pressed late before finding enough to secure the victory.
“She is the kind of horse who I don’t think will ever win by open lengths,” Desruisseaux said, explaining that Dixie Law can ease off once she reaches the front before responding when another runner comes alongside.
That characteristic has been evident throughout her career. A homebred for Garland Williamson’s Hillsbrook Farms, Dixie Law made her debut in July last year, winning a six-furlong race on the E.P. Taylor turf by 1 1/2 lengths.
Her first stakes appearance came in the Natalma Stakes (G1T), where she finished sixth but was beaten only 2 1/2 lengths. She then found her mark in the Cup and Saucer Stakes, winning the $250,000 contest over 1 1/16 miles before adding the Mazarine Stakes (G3) on November 2.
She closed her 2-year-old campaign with a fourth-place finish in the Coronation Futurity over 1 1/8 miles on Woodbine’s main track and was later named a finalist for the 2025 Sovereign Award in the Champion Two-Year-Old Female category.
Her 3-year-old season began with another narrow success, this time in the seven-furlong Ruling Angel Stakes, which she won by a nose in 1:22.58. She subsequently finished third in the Selene Stakes, second in the Woodbine Oaks and fourth in The King’s Plate before returning to winning form in the Wonder Where.
Dixie Law enters Saturday’s race with a 5-1-1 record from 10 starts and $598,557 in purse earnings.
Her preparation has also gone smoothly. She covered five furlongs on the Woodbine main track in 59 seconds on September 30. Desruisseaux said the time was quicker than planned, but the filly appeared to handle the work comfortably and recovered quickly afterward.
Pietro Moran, who rode Dixie Law in the recent workout, will retain the mount on Saturday.
The Ontario Damsel field also includes Raiding Party, who will be ridden by Ryan Munger and trained by Brendan Walsh; Ontology, with Emma-Jayne Wilson aboard for trainer Kevin Attard; Hot Mash, partnered by Sahin Civaci for John Servis; Bold Time, with Fraser Aebly riding for Josie Carroll; and Cool Times, who will have Jose Campos in the saddle for Katerina Vassilieva. Dixie Law will break from post six with Moran aboard and Desruisseaux overseeing the preparation.
Kevin Attard has won the Ontario Damsel four times, including three consecutive editions from 2019 through 2021. The race was first run in 1991, when Dancing With Wings won by 1 1/2 lengths for Sam-Son Farm with Sandy Hawley aboard.
My Covenant Carries Winning Momentum into Sophomore Stakes
Also on Saturday, the $125,000 Sophomore Stakes will see five 3-year-olds travel 6 1/2 furlongs on the Woodbine main track.
My Covenant arrives in particularly strong form after a seven-length victory in the Lake Erie Stakes at Fort Erie on September 7. The Souper Speedy gelding took control early in that 6 1/2-furlong contest before drawing clear in the final stages.
Trainer Audrey Cheung has been encouraged by the way My Covenant has adapted to a more prominent racing style.
The gelding was claimed for $25,000 last October after winning his second start. Since then, My Covenant has compiled two wins, two seconds and two thirds from seven starts, and now heads into Saturday on a two-race winning streak.
Cheung said the confidence shown by My Covenant has been one of the most noticeable developments in recent starts. Previously, the gelding often raced from behind before finding the finish line arriving too quickly. His recent races have seen a different approach, with sharper breaks and a willingness to dictate the tempo.
My Covenant also completed a four-furlong workout in 48.80 seconds over the Woodbine main track on October 3. Moran was aboard for the work and reported that the gelding settled into his rhythm comfortably.
Bred by Tucci Holdings, My Covenant has a record of 3-2-3 from nine lifetime starts and $133,977 in purse earnings. The gelding is owned by Mad Dog Racing Stables LLC and Mike Robitaille, with Nigel Burke serving as groom.
The five-horse Sophomore Stakes field will see Highwaytothemoon break from post one with Jose Campos aboard for Dale Desruisseaux. Meilani will start from post two with Luis Reyes riding for Kevin Attard, while My Covenant will occupy post three with Pietro Moran in the saddle for Audrey Cheung. Z Z’s will break from post four with Emma-Jayne Wilson riding for Josie Carroll, and Reb Five will complete the field from post five with Fraser Aebly aboard for Mark Casse.
With Dixie Law bringing established stakes form and My Covenant arriving off two emphatic victories, Saturday’s Woodbine programme will provide two closely watched tests for promising 3-year-olds.
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