Kin’s Concerto and jockey Sofia Vives winning the Woodbine Oaks presented by Stella Artois. (Michael Burns Photo)
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
TORONTO, Ont. – Kin’s Concerto, under Sofia Vives, orchestrated a spirited stretch run to win the 69th running of the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Stella Artois, Saturday at Woodbine.
A homebred for Chiefswood Stables, Kin’s Concerto arrived at the biggest race in the country for Canadian-foaled 3-year-old fillies without an added-money engagement listed on her dance card.
On a hot summer afternoon in Toronto, the daughter of Mendelssohn-Kincardine shone in her stakes debut.
Trained by Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll, Kin’s Concerto got away smartly in the 14-horse field and sat third after an opening quarter in :23.78 set by 50-1 Lookin to Conquer, who was a half-length in front of Lunch With Bernie.
Lookin to Conquer and Lunch With Bernie continued to hold down first and second, respectively, through a half in :47.96, while Vives maintained a patient hand with Kin’s Concerto in fourth.
Coming off the turn, Lunch With Bernie held a narrow advantage, but found herself confronted by Caitlinhergrtness and A Little Frisky, the latter also trained by Carroll.
Vives called upon the chestnut in upper stretch and the filly responded with a tremendous outside burst and started to reel in the leaders.
Fourth and gaining at the stretch call, Kin’s Concerto got up to notch a neck victory over Caitlinhergrtness. Hurricane Clair rallied stoutly to finish third. A Little Frisky was fourth.
The final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:51.18.
“We just wanted to break in early position,” said Vives, who partnered Cruden Bay to victory one race earlier in the bet365 Connaught Cup (G2T). “We wound up right on the rail. Perfect trip in the turn, I got to get into a two-path, followed the horse that I thought was going to be a tough one, it opened up all the holes, and we shot right through.
“She’s a very, very talented filly, and she’s always shined bright in my eyes,” continued the apprentice, whose mother was on hand to watch the race. “It’s pretty exciting for this to happen in your lifetime, but to happen as a bug, I think it’s pretty special.”
Carroll, one win away from reaching 1,000 for her career, lauded both Vives and Kin’s Concerto.
“This young lady has improved leaps and bounds this year. She suits this filly very, very much, she listens to instructions, which is what I really like about her. She does exactly what she’s asked to do. She was told to sit quiet on this filly. Not get in her head and treat it like another race. You know, put the filly in the position that she needed to be in and then have confidence in her and she did just that.
“She’s always shown some talent, she’s just had some unfortunate luck,” Carroll said of Kin’s Concerto. “Different things that have gone wrong and problems in races. A horse that closes and hooks big fields and has to get through – it’s always a challenge.”
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Rob Landry, who rode three Oaks winners, now has five Oaks to his name, after Nipissing’s 2013 triumph and Kin’s Concerto’s victory, the latter two in his role as Chiefswood’s General Manager.
“She [Kin’s Concerto] just shows you the signs and Josie’s team has done a tremendous job with her as well. Sofia rode her great. It was well deserved. I’m happy for the owners, they put a lot into this game and especially when you’re in the breeding operation, these types of races are really big.”
Kin’s Concerto is now 2-2-1 from five starts. She debuted last November at Woodbine, finishing second, but elevated to first, in a six-furlong main track race.
She paid $11.50 for today’s win.
The Woodbine Oaks has served as a King’s Plate (August 17) stepping-stone for fillies. Oaks-Plate champions include Moira (2022), Holy Helena (2017), Lexie Lou (2014), Inglorious (2011) and Dancethruthedawn (2001). In 2018, Oaks runner-up Wonder Gadot went on to win The King’s Plate.
A decision on whether to run in the Plate will take place in the coming days.
“The owners and I will speak and then I’ll speak to Josie,” said Landry, who won the 2004 Plate with Chiefswood homebred Niigon. “We’re just going to let her cool out and see where it goes from here. We personally haven’t had a lot of luck running fillies in the Plate, but a lot of people have. Obviously, you’ve got to think long and hard about it. We’re going to do what’s right by the filly.”
