Caitlinhergrtness kicks off 2025 with a victory in the Belle Mahone (G3) (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon/Woodbine Communications
TORONTO – Caitlinhergrtness, named after WNBA superstar Cailtin Clark, chases her second straight graded score, this time in the $175,000 Nassau Stakes (G2T), part of the Canada Day Racing Festival, Saturday at Woodbine.
A one-mile turf event for fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, the Nassau shares the spotlight with four other graded stakes offerings: $200,000 bet365 Highlander (G2T), $150,000 Dominion Day (G3), $150,000 HPIbet Marine (G3) and $150,000 Selene (G3).
Trained by Kevin Attard, Caitlinhergrtness, last year’s King’s Plate winner and Canada’s 3-Year-Old Female champion, heads into her latest engagement off a stellar five-length triumph in the Belle Mahone Stakes (G3) on May 31 at Woodbine.
The 1 1/16-mile main track event, which drew eight hopefuls, was the chestnut filly’s 4-year-old debut.
“That last race was obviously extremely impressive,” said Attard. “We were hoping she was going to run a big one and she did exactly that – very professional from start to finish. One of the things I’ve really come to appreciate about her is the ability to shift into another gear when the real running starts. Whether she’s chasing another horse down or looking to sprint away from the pack, she can put things into overdrive in a few strides.”
Owned by WinStar Farm LLC, the daughter of Omaha Beach out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Belatrix debuted in the U.S. in 2023, where she made four starts. After finishing third in her debut at Saratoga, she broke her maiden next time out at Belmont. She closed out her 2-year-old campaign with a fourth in the Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct and opened her 3-year-old season with the same result at Gulfstream before heading north to Woodbine.
Bred by Jesse Korona, Caitlinhergrtness was runner-up in last year’s Woodbine Oaks before taking the 165th running of The King’s Plate. She ended her sophomore season with a third in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland in October, and a fourth in the Valedictory Stakes, at Woodbine, on November 9.
“Watching her compete is a real privilege,” said Attard, of the filly who has compiled a 4-1-2 mark from 10 starts, along with $772,414 (USD) / $1,004.898 (CDN) in purse earnings. “You know that when it’s game time, she’s ready to go and she’s up for the challenge.”
Just like her WNBA namesake.
“We like to think she’s like Caitlin Clark – athletic, all heart, clutch,” said Attard.
Caitlinhergrtness recorded a pair of breezes ahead of the Nassau, both on the Woodbine dirt training track, a four-furlong breeze in :48.20 on June 14 and a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.40 on June 21.
“She’ll be facing some tough competition, and she’ll have to bring her A-game again. We’re looking forward to it.”
Troy Garnett is the groom.
Crevalle d’Oro and Ready to Jam, both trained by Mark Casse, will also contest the Nassau.
A 4-year-old daughter of Constitution out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Sonoma d’Oro, Crevalle d’Oro is 3-4-2 from 14 starts, along with $179,531 (USD) in purse earnings.
Bred in Kentucky by Sandra Sexton, the graded stakes placed dark bay heads into the Grade 2 event off a 1 ½-length win at one mile over the Woodbine inner turf on May 31.
“She’s a really nice, consistent mare, so we are looking for a good race from her,” said assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan, of the filly owned by Blue Crevalle Racing and Quintessential Racing Florida LLC. “We liked her effort last time and hopefully that translates into a big performance this weekend.”
Dean Barrett is the groom.
Ready to Jam, a 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready out of the Sky Mesa mare Third Dawn, brings a mark of 2-2-3 from 10 starts into Saturday’s tilt.
Owned by Gary Barber and D.J. Stable LLC, the bay filly, who has recorded $148,323 (USD) in purse earnings, heads into the Nassau off a second, a half-length back of 70-1 winner Ms. Tart, in the HPIbet Royal North Stakes (G3T) on May 31.
“She is doing very well coming into the race,” said Sullivan. “She is such a lovely filly. If you look at her races, she tries every time. She started the year off with a race at Churchill, where she rallied to finish third in a five-furlong turf race. So, two very nice efforts coming into this one.”
Bred in Kentucky by John Gardiner, Ready to Jam was a $320,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland Association September Yearling Sale.
Brooklyn Howard is the groom.
Other starters include multiple graded stakes winner Mission of Joy, and graded stakes winners Ms. Tart and Ocean Club.
The wagering menu for the Nassau includes Exacta, 0.20 Trifecta, 0.20 Superfecta, .20 Jackpot Hi5, and $1 Swinger. Fans can also watch and wager on all the action via HPIbet.com and bet365.com.
First post time is 1:05 p.m.
Field for the $175,000 Nassau Stakes (G2T) – Race 10
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – Blueberry Fields – Daisuke Fukumoto – Brandon Greer
2 – Crevalle d’Oro – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse
3 – Ready for Shirl – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Roger Attfield
4 – Caitlinhergrtness – Rafael Hernandez – Kevin Attard
5 – Ready to Jam – Sahin Civaci – Mark Casse
6 – Metaphysical – Ryan Munger – Tony Gattellaro
7 – Ms. Tart – Huber Villa-Gomez – Kevin Rice (cross-entered in Highlander)
8 – Ocean Club – Sofia Vives – Tom Proctor
9 – Mixologist – Pietro Moran – Josie Carroll
10 – Sweet Rebecca – Dylan Davis – Chad Brown
11 – Misson of Joy – Eswan Flores – Graham Motion
12 – Austere – Declan Cannon – Brendan Walsh
