Making her first start of the 2025 season, last year’s King’s Plate winner and Canadian champion 3-year-old filly, Caitlinhergrtness, picked up right where she left off, dominating a field of older fillies and mares in the Grade 3, $150,000 Belle Mahone Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday, May 31.
The impressive five-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile main track event marked the first graded stakes win for the WinStar Farm homebred.
Breaking alertly from post two under regular rider Rafael Hernandez, the 2-1 favorite was content to sit a stalking third as For Flying (BRZ) and Dana’s Beauty battled for the early lead through an opening quarter-mile in 24.17 and a half in 47.56.
Patiently handled by Hernandez, Caitlinhergrtness awaited her cue as the field bunched up around the far turn.
Finding a seam between horses at the quarter pole, the daughter of Omaha Beach exploded with a powerful turn of foot, collaring the leaders and surging to the front.
From there, the race was for second as the Kevin Attard trainee opened up on the field with every stride, cruising to an easy victory in a final time of 1:42.26 on the all-weather track.
For Flying (BRZ) held on for second, a neck in front of a late-running Ready for Shirl.
“I was just trying to get her to relax,” said Hernandez. “She’s been working really hard, and I just want to get her back on her feet and relax good. And I know when she is able to do that, when I put her in the clear, she’s going to explode like she did today. She’s been working amazing, and everything paid off today.”
Attard, who celebrated his first Sovereign Award as Canada’s outstanding trainer in 2024, was equally impressed with the filly’s return. “I was a little more nervous with her, just because she had been working so fast, and we were making a conscious effort trying to slow her down in the mornings,” said Attard.
“She came into us early in the year from WinStar, just looking like a different animal. She matured so much, she filled out, she grew, and, you know, it all transpired onto the racetrack. Raffi did a good job with her, and she showed why she’s a champion.”
The victory improved Caitlinhergrtness’s record to 4-1-2 from 10 starts, with earnings of $772,414.
Scratched Horse(s): Freedom Speaks (Stewards)
Fractional Times: 24.17, 47.56, 1:11.74, 1:35.76
Final Time: 1:42.26
Winning Connections
Winner: Caitlinhergrtness
Jockey: Rafael Hernandez
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: WinStar Farm LLC
Breeder: Jesse Korona
Bloodline: Chestnut Filly, by Omaha Beach out of Belatrix, by Giant’s Causeway. Foaled Apr 22, 2021 in ON. OMAHA BEACH stands at Spendthrift
Payouts
1st – (2) Caitlinhergrtness – Win ($6.30), Place ($3.80), Show ($3.10)
2nd – (7) For Flying (BRZ) – Place ($10.10), Show ($8.20)
3rd – (6) Ready for Shirl – Show ($7.90)
$1.00 Exacta (2-7): $29.30, $0.20 Trifecta (2-7-6): $51.77, $0.20 Superfecta (2-7-6-4): $199.60
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