Souper Diva and jockey Jose Campos. (Michael Burns)
Chris Lomon, Woodbine
TORONTO, Ont.— Souper Diva, under Jose Campos, was resolute throughout Sunday’s $100,000 Victorian Queen Stakes, for 2-year-old Ontario-sired fillies, at Woodbine.
Trained by Steven Chircop for 6 Deep Stable, the daughter of Souper Speedy out of the Sharp Humor mare Secret Chords came into the 6 ½-furlong race for Ontario-sired 2-year-old fillies off a sterling front-running score in the $200,000 Muskoka Stakes on August 24.
It was more of the same on Sunday.
Campos had Souper Diva, the slight 2-1 choice, ready to roll from the start, the duo storming to the lead early and resisting mild pressure, as Arianna’s Tour and Sipping History settled into second and third, respectively, through an opening quarter of :22.48.
Souper Diva was two lengths on top after a half in :45.85, but Sipping History began to ratchet up the pressure to her outside turning for home, while the latter’s stablemate, Pageant Queen, was rolling three-wide, looking to confront the leader in early stretch.
Sipping History continued to apply pressure to Souper Diva down the lane, but to no avail. At the wire, Souper Diva was two lengths clear in a time of 1:17.84. Sipping History was 3 ½ lengths ahead of Pageant Queen, who bested Arianna’s Tour by a head for third.
“Like last time, the filly broke well and broke in front by herself,” said Campos, who was also aboard for the Muskoka victory. “I said to Steve that I didn’t want to change anything today. The filly ran hard last time, so we are going to do the same.
“She ran fast the whole way around. She never stopped. At the quarter pole when I asked her to go, she responded. She’s tiny, but she’s a big-hearted filly.”
Chircop had high praise for the maturation his rookie has shown over her past two starts.
“I think it took her a couple starts to figure out her job. Work-wise, she has been working phenomenally. She worked really good going into her last race and the work in the interim was really good. I knew that if anybody wanted to go with her, they were going to be punished early.”
Bred by Northern Dawn Stables Inc., Souper Diva was a $23,000 purchase at the 2024 CTHS Ontario Premier Yearling Sale.
The dark bay, now 3-0-0 from five starts, paid $6.10 for the win.
