Woodbine: Caitlinhergrtness seeks 2nd straight graded win

Caitlinhergrtness, named after WNBA superstar Cailtin Clark, chases her second straight graded score, this time in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes, 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, led by the Highlander (G2).

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 said. “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, 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 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 (G1) at Keeneland in October and a fourth in the Valedictory Stakes at Woodbine on Nov. 9.

“Watching her compete is a real privilege,” Attard said of the filly, who has compiled a 10: 4-1-2 mark from 10 starts, along with US$772,414 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,” Attard said.

Caitlinhergrtness recorded a pair of breezes ahead of the Nassau, both on the Woodbine dirt training track, a four-furlong breeze in 48.2 seconds 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.”

Crevalle d’Oro and Ready to Jam, both trained by Mark Casse, also will contest the Nassau.

A 4-year-old daughter of Constitution out of the Medaglia d’Oro mare Sonoma d’Oro, Crevalle d’Oro is 14: 3-4-2 with US$179,531 in purse earnings.

Bred in Kentucky by Sandra Sexton, the graded stakes placed dark bay heads into the Grade 2 event off a 1 1/2-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,” assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan said of the filly owned by Blue Crevalle Racing and Quintessential Racing Florida. “We liked her effort last time, and hopefully that translates into a big performance this weekend.”

Ready to Jam, a 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready out of the Sky Mesa mare Third Dawn, brings a mark of 10: 2-2-3 into Saturday’s tilt.

Owned by Gary Barber and D.J. Stable, the bay filly, who has recorded US$148,323 in purse earnings, heads into the Nassau off a second, a half-length back of 70-1 winner Ms. Tart, in the Royal North Stakes (G3) on May 31.

“She is doing very well coming into the race,” Sullivan said. “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 September yearling sale.

Other starters include multiple graded-stakes winner Mission of Joy and graded-stakes winners Ms. Tart and Ocean Club.