Woodbine: Full Count Felicia romps in Canadian Stakes

Full Count Felicia, under an enterprising ride by Rafael Hernandez, took all the spoils in the Grade 2, $US145,354 Canadian Stakes on Saturday at Woodbine.

The Canadian, a 1 1/8-mile race over the turf for 3-year-olds and up, went postward with eight fillies and mares after the scratches of Moira, Mission of Joy and Libban.

Full Count Felicia, who came into the race off a fourth in the Nassau Stakes (G2) on the turf at Woodbine on June 29, was sent to the front by Hernandez soon after the gates opened, while Elysian Field tracked in second, followed by Fashionably Fab, who settled into third through a tepid opening panel reached in 24.51 seconds.

It was status quo for the lead duo through a half-mile in 48.44 seconds, with Full Count Felicia clear by two lengths over Elysian Field, with Forever After All sitting third along the rail, shadowed by Star Fortress to her outside.

Hernandez let it out a notch heading into the turn for home and Full Count Felicia responded, as the pair widened their lead. Elysian Field, Star Fortress, and Forever After All looked to reel in the freewheeling leader, but to no avail.

Ahead by five lengths at the stretch call, the 5-year-old daughter of War Front-Clair de Lune, trained by Kevin Attard for owner Gold Square, crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths on top. Millie Girl rallied to net second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Five Towns. Fashionably Fab, also trained by Attard, was fourth.

The final time over good going was 1:48.69.

“We’ve been having rain these last couple days, and then she loved the surface,” said Hernandez. “It was good, not that firm. And you can see down the stretch, when I was asking from the quarter pole, asking a little bit, she just picked it up right away.

“We got a couple horses come from behind. They’re going to kick good, so I tried to get the jump before them.”

Full Count Felicia, now 17: 6-2-1, has raced at 10 different racetracks, a list that includes stops at Belmont, Aqueduct, Santa Anita, Gulfstream, Colonial Downs and Tampa.

Prior to the Canadian triumph, the bay’s highest profile victory came in the Suwannee River (G3) last December at Gulfstream.

Bred in Kentucky by Joseph Allen, Full Count Felicia was a $200,000 purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training.

“She’s a nice filly,” said Josh Attard, son of Kevin Attard. “She’s been training exceptionally well, going into this race. You know, she ran a good race last time, from off the layoff, and we were expecting a big performance today.”

Full Count Felicia, sent off as the slight choice, paid $7.80 for the win.